16 Adverbs of degree: very, absolutely, etc. © Gradable adjectives and adverbs refer to qualities that we can grade or compare; Uhey usually lave 4 comparative and superlative form. © We canuse adverbs of degree to make gradable adjectives and adverbs stronger or weaker: He’s a fairly good painter but he needs to improve his technique. They work together extremely efficiently. @ We can use very with all gradable adjectives and adverbs. We can use extremely and really with many of them: very intelligent/badly extremely hot/old-fashioned really happy/colourful © Ungradable adjectives and adverbs refer to extreme qualities that we don’t grade or compare; they don’t usually have a comparative and superlative form. Compare these pairs of gradable and ungradable adjectives and adverbs: angry — furious badly-appallingly biq—gigantic well— brilliantly hot - boiling important —essential tired - exhausted © We can use absolutely and really to emphasise many ungradable adjectives and adverbs but we cannot make them weaker: absolutely brilliantly really awful @ Some adverbs of degree tend to collocate with certain adjectives: — utterly impossible/miserable/ridiculous/useless ~ highly amusing/improbable/skilled/successful ~ totally different /exhausted/satisfied/unnecessary ~ completely accurate /relaxed /free/satisfied/useless ~ entirely clear/happy/satisfactory/sure @ The adverbs quite and rather can have different meanings, depending on how they are used: ~ quite (= fairly) + gradable adjective/adverb: It’s quite good. — quite (= absolutely) + ungradable adjective/adverh: The team played quite brilliantly. ~ rather (= fairly) + negative gradable adjective/adverb: She’s rather angry. — rather + comparative adjective /adverb: Their last CD was rather better than this one. = rather (= to a greater degree than expected) + positive gradable adjective/adverb: That programme was rather interesting. © With a noun, we can use the following patterns: it was quite a pleasant surprise. It was rather a pleasant surprise. It was a rather pleasant surprise. ria eee 16a Circle the correct answer. © Your prediction was accurate, In fact, you were@bsolutelp)/ extremely right. a Carlos is an extremely / absolutely hard worker. He also works absolutely / very quickly. 2. It's absolutely / really cold outside. Shall we stay in? 3. Isit very / absolutely important that | go out tonight? I'm absolutely / really tired. 3536 4 She was really / fairly furious with him for leaving the baby alone. 5 Ifyou follow the instructions, it's ubsulutely / fuirly simple to assemble the bookcase. 6 Are you absolutely / extremely certain that the infurmation is accurate? 7 Hygiene is absolutely / extremely important in places like hospitals. 8 He was absolutely / very devastated by the accident. Luckily, all of his friends responded absolutely / very sympathetically. 9 Budapest Is a beautiful city with some really / very magniticent buildings. 20 You should go and see the exhibition at the museum. It's absolutely / very interesting. 16D Circle the correct answers. There may be more than one correct answer. 16¢ © The meal is@bsolutelp)/ fairly /Geallp)delicious. 1 The film we saw was quite / totally / highly amusing. 2 You've made fairly / quite / very a big mess. 3 | always have a(n) absolutely / really / very wonderful time when | go there. 4 He looked entirely / very / utterly ridiculous in thase clothes. 5 They weren't entirely / rather / utterly happy with the results, 6 Ifyou aren't highly / completely / rather satisfied with your purchase, we'll give you your money back. 7 They make a(n) absolutely / extremely | very attractive couple, don't you think? 8 She's a(n) entirely / extremely / highly successful surgeon. 9 Donna hates her new school. In fact, she is utterly / highly / absolutely miserable there. 40 There's a lot of traffic on the roads and I think it’s very / entirely / highly improbable that they'll arrive on time. Complete the conversations. Use quite or rather. Sometimes both are possible. amazed at how quickly he’s recovered from the illness. surprising but such a relief! . exhausted. How du yuu feel? B: I've just had a rest but I'm still. . tired. 2 A: I think Sue behaved ppallingly this evening. Don’t you? B: Well, you're over-reacting a little but she did behave .. . badly. 3 A: The lead singer performed B: She did perform very positive. 4 As Sula understands English speak. B: True, but she did 5 A: | think Hong Kongis.. B: Yes, and it’s . splendidly this evening. well given that her reviews haven’t been well but she finds it difficutt to better than | expected on her last test. .. an amazing city, .. fascinating too.