Adverbs of Degree
A2 · ElementaryAdverbsAdverbs of degree answer 'to what extent?' or 'how much?' — they let you turn up or down the intensity of what you're saying.
What you'll learn
- Strong intensifiers: extremely, absolutely, completely — a high degree
- Moderate intensifiers: quite, fairly, rather — a medium degree
- Near-completion: almost, nearly — very close to 100%
- Near-zero: hardly, barely, scarcely — very close to 0%
What degree adverbs do
Adverbs of degree tell you how strong or how much of something there is. Most modify adjectives or other adverbs (extremely tired, very quickly), though some — like almost and hardly — can also modify verbs directly.
From strong to moderate
Extremely, absolutely, and completely show a very high degree — often used with extreme adjectives like amazing or exhausted. Quite, fairly, and rather show a more moderate degree, somewhere in the middle.
almost/nearly vs. hardly/barely — opposite meanings
Almost and nearly mean 'very close to completing something' — the action came close to happening but usually didn't (or just barely did): I almost fell means I didn't fall, but it was close.
Hardly and barely mean the opposite — 'to a very small degree' or 'almost not at all': I hardly know him means I know him very little.
Real English
Watch out
Almost/nearly describe something that came close to happening; hardly/barely describe something that happened to a very small degree. They're opposites, not synonyms.
Extreme adjectives like amazing, exhausted, and freezing pair with absolutely/completely, not very.
With quite + a/an + adjective + noun, quite comes before the article: quite a good idea, not 'a quite good idea'.
Real life — Reviewing a restaurant
"So, how was dinner?"
"Honestly, it was quite good — nothing amazing, but solid."
"Was it expensive?"
"Not really. It was fairly reasonable for the portion sizes."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct word
This exam was ___ difficult — much harder than I expected.
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct word
I ___ fell down the stairs — I caught the railing just in time.
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct word
I ___ know him — we've only met once.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct word
The movie was ___ good — I'd recommend it, but it's not amazing.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct word
The results were ___ amazing — everyone was shocked.
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct word
We're ___ finished — just a few more minutes.
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct meaning
Which word means 'to a small/moderate degree'?
Exercise 8 · Complete the sentence
Complete: I'm ___ tired to keep working — I need to stop. (means 'to such a degree that I can't', one word)
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Complete: I ___ recognized her — she's changed so much. (means 'almost didn't', one word)
Exercise 10 · Build the sentence
Exercise 11 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
The soup was ___ hot — I burned my tongue.
You learned
- Strong: extremely, absolutely, completely. Moderate: quite, fairly, rather.
- Almost/nearly = very close to happening (came close, usually didn't happen).
- Hardly/barely = to a very small degree (almost not at all) — the opposite of almost.
- Extreme adjectives (amazing, exhausted) pair with absolutely, not very.
Related grammar lessons
Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
Learn how to compare actions with adverbs — more/most for most -ly adverbs, -er/-est for a few short ones, and irregular forms like better and worst.
Adverb Position
Learn the three main adverb positions in English — front, mid, and end — and the manner-place-time order for stacking adverbials at the end of a sentence.
Adverbs of Manner
Learn how to form adverbs of manner with -ly, the irregular forms like well and fast, and the well-known hard/hardly trap.
Adverbs of Frequency
Learn always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely and never, and the one placement rule that decides where they go in a sentence.