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Adverbs Intensifiers

The document explains the concept of intensifiers, which are adverbs or phrases that emphasize the meaning of other expressions. It details the usage and meanings of specific intensifiers such as 'pretty', 'rather', 'quite', and 'fairly', highlighting their contexts and grammatical rules. Each intensifier varies in strength, with 'fairly' being the weakest and 'pretty' being informal, while 'rather' and 'quite' serve more versatile roles in both positive and negative contexts.

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39 views14 pages

Adverbs Intensifiers

The document explains the concept of intensifiers, which are adverbs or phrases that emphasize the meaning of other expressions. It details the usage and meanings of specific intensifiers such as 'pretty', 'rather', 'quite', and 'fairly', highlighting their contexts and grammatical rules. Each intensifier varies in strength, with 'fairly' being the weakest and 'pretty' being informal, while 'rather' and 'quite' serve more versatile roles in both positive and negative contexts.

Uploaded by

maria espindola
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Adverbs: Intensifiers

HC1
Intensifiers are adverbs or adverbial phrases that strengthen
the meaning of other expressions and show emphasis.

Words that we commonly use as intensifiers include absolutely,


completely, extremely, highly, rather, really, so, too, totally,
utterly, very and at all
● The words pretty, quite, rather, and fairly are all
intensifiers.

He had a pretty busy and strange day


Pretty

Pretty, meaning ‘less than very, but to a large degree’, can only be
used before adjectives and adverbs.

It is used in informal language only and rarely in negative contexts.

● The meal was pretty good.


● She cooks pretty well.

When pretty is used to modify an adjective + noun, we always put an


article in front of it.

● We had a pretty (busy day).


● He’s a pretty (good driver).
Kind of
Rather
Rather has a similar meaning to pretty, but it’s more formal. It is a
versatile intensifier with several different uses.

It is often used to add intensity to a negative idea.

● The dish was rather bland.


● The lecture was rather boring.

Rather can also be used to emphasise positive ideas when


something is unusual or surprising.

● His work is rather impressive.


• They walked rather slowly.
When used to modify a noun, rather is followed by an article. This,
however, is not particularly common.

● The event was rather a success, I believe.

When used before an adjective + noun, the article can be placed before or
after the word rather.

● We’ve had rather a dull morning. (more formal)


● We’ve had a rather dull

Rather can also be used before verbs to express thoughts or emotions.


This is more common in British English than in American English.

● I rather think you should apologise to him.


Quite
Quite is another versatile adverb of degree. It usually has two different
meanings depending on the word that comes after it.

When quite is used before gradable adjectives and adverbs, it means


‘less than very, but to a large degree’.

A gradable adjective is an adjective that can have different levels of that


quality; for example, the word good can accept the distinction between
a little good and very good. The negative not quite can be used in
the same way to mean ‘not completely’.

● The soup was quite good.


● Matt swims quite well.
● My hair is not quite dry.
When quite is used before non-gradable adjectives such as sure,
certain, amazing, awful, etc. it means ‘completely’, ‘absolutely’.

Non-gradable adjectives are extreme adjectives that cannot be qualified


by words such as a little or very.

● I’m quite sure that is the correct answer.


● The experience was quite incredible.

Quite can also be used to intensify opinion verbs such as like, agree,
and enjoy.

● I quite like his new album.


● We quite enjoyed playing in the rain.
Before a noun or an adjective + noun, quite is always followed by an
article.

● The book launch was quite a success.


● It’s quite a big company.

Quite can also be used before the particles a few, a lot, and a bit to
indicate a larger quantity of something.

● Quite a few people turned up for the protest.


● The weather in Italy is quite a lot warmer than it is here.
Fairly
Fairly, meaning ‘not very, but to a moderately or acceptable degree’, is
the weakest in intensity of the four words. It can go before adjectives
and adverbs.

● We live fairly close to one another. Just a 10-minute drive away.


● Joe did fairly well in the test. He could have done better, though.

When used before adjective + noun, the article is placed before fairly.

● It is a fairly common surname where she lives.


● She had a fairly quiet life.
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1-b2/pretty-rather-quite-fairly-intensifiers/

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