Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity of something. Adverbs of degree are usually
placed before the adjective, adverb, or verb that they modify, although there are some
exceptions. The words "too", "enough", "very", and "extremely" are examples of adverbs of
degree.
Adverb of degree Modifying Example
extremely adjective The water was extremely cold.
quite adjective The movie is quite interesting.
just verb He was just leaving.
almost verb She has almost finished.
very adverb She is running very fast.
too adverb You are walking too slowly.
enough adverb You are running fast enough.
Usage of "enough"
Enough can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.
Enough as an adverb
Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' goes after the adjective or adverb that it is
modifying, and not before it as other adverbs do. It can be used both in positive and negative
sentences.
Examples
Is your coffee hot enough?
This box isn't big enough.
He didn't work hard enough.
I got here early enough.
Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.
Examples
He didn't work hard enough to pass the exam.
Is your coffee hot enough to drink?
She's not old enough to get married.
I got here early enough to sign up.
Enough can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".
Examples
The dress was big enough for me.
She's not experienced enough for this job.
Is the coffee hot enough for you?
He didn't work hard enough for a promotion.
Enough as a determiner
Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes before the noun it modifies.
It is used with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns.
Examples
We have enough bread.
You have enough children.
They don't have enough food.
I don't have enough apples.
Usage of "too"
"Too" is always an adverb, but it has two distinct meanings, each with its own usage patterns.
Too meaning "also"
Too as an adverb meaning "also" goes at the end of the phrase it modifies.
Examples
I would like to go swimming too, if you will let me come.
Can I go to the zoo too?
Is this gift for me too?
I'm not going to clean your room too!
Too meaning "excessively"
Too as an adverb meaning "excessively" goes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It can be
used in both affirmative and negative sentences.
Examples
This coffee is too hot.
He works too hard.
Isn't she too young?
I am not too short!
Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.
Examples
The coffee was too hot to drink.
You're too young to have grandchildren!
I am not too tired to go out tonight.
Don't you work too hard to have any free time?
Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".
Examples
The coffee was too hot for me.
The dress was too small for her.
He's not too old for this job.
Sally's not too slow for our team.
Usage of "very"
Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.
Examples
The girl was very beautiful.
The house is very expensive.
He worked very quickly.
She runs very fast.
If we want to make a negative form of an adjective or adverb, we can add "not" to the verb, we
can use an adjective or adverb of opposite meaning, or we can use "not very" with the original
adjective or adverb. The meanings of the phrases are not identical. Usually the phrase using "not
very" is less direct, and thus more polite, than the other phrases.
Examples
Original Opposite meaning Opposite meaning Opposite meaning with
phrase with "not" with "not very" an opposite word
The girl was The girl was not The girl was not very The girl was ugly.
beautiful. beautiful. beautiful.
He worked He did not work He did not work very He worked slowly.
quickly. quickly. quickly.
Difference in meaning between "very" and "too"
There is a big difference in meaning between "too" and "very". "Very" expresses a fact while
"too" suggests there is a problem.
Examples
He speaks very quickly.
He speaks too quickly for me to understand.
It is very hot outside.
It is too hot outside to go for a walk.
Other adverbs used like "very"
Some common adverbs are used in the same way as "very" to heighten the degree of adjectives
and adverbs.
Expressing very strong Expressing strong feelings Expressing somewhat
feelings doubtful feelings
extremely, terribly, especially, particularly, pretty, rather, fairly, not
amazingly, wonderfully, uncommonly, unusually, especially, not particularly
insanely remarkably, quite
The movie was amazingly The movie was particularly The movie was fairly
interesting. interesting. interesting.
She sang wonderfully well. She sang unusually well. She sang pretty well.
The lecture was terribly The lecture was quite boring. The lecture was rather
boring. boring.
Inversion with negative adverbs
Normally the subject goes before the verb, however, some negative adverbs can cause an
inversion when placed at the beginning of the clause. The order is reversed and the verb goes
before the subject. This inversion is only used in writing, not in speaking.
Adverb Normal word order Inversion
Never I have never seen such courage. Never have I seen such courage.
Adverb Normal word order Inversion
Rarely She rarely left the house. Rarely did she leave the house.
Not only She did not only the cooking but the Not only did she do the cooking, but the
cleaning as well. cleaning as well.
Scarcely I scarcely closed the door before he Scarcely did I close the door before he
started talking. started talking.
Seldom We seldom cross the river after Seldom do we cross the river sunset.
sunset.
