Grammar: Adverbs of Degree
B1 Lesson 18: Modifying Intensity
What are Adverbs of Degree?
Adjectives describe nouns (e.g., "a beautiful temple"). But how do we describe how beautiful? We use Adverbs of Degree. These words modify adjectives or other adverbs to change their intensity. They answer the question "To what extent?" or "How much?".
Use very and really to make an adjective stronger.
Example: The carvings at Banteay Srei are really beautiful.
Use quite to mean 'fairly' or 'more than a little'.
Example: The market was quite busy this morning.
Use too to mean there is a problem; it is more than is wanted.
Example: I can't drink this coffee. It's too hot!
The Special Case: 'enough'
'Enough' is a unique adverb of degree because its position in the sentence changes depending on what it modifies.
Word Order for 'Enough'
| Rule | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Modifying Adjectives/Adverbs | Adjective / Adverb + enough | Is the water warm enough? |
| Modifying Nouns | enough + Noun | Do we have enough money? |
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Correct the Sentences
Some of these sentences are incorrect. Find the mistakes and fix them.
- The hotel was nice quite.
→ Incorrect. The hotel was quite nice. - Is your drink cold enough?
→ Correct. - The tuk-tuk was too slow for me.
→ Correct. - I don't have money enough for that expensive restaurant.
→ Incorrect. I don't have enough money... - He didn't run quickly enough to win the race.
→ Correct.
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Your Turn: Describe an Experience
Think about a place you have visited recently (a cafe, a city, a temple). Write three sentences to describe it, using at least three different adverbs of degree from this lesson (e.g., very, quite, too, enough).
Key Vocabulary
- Adverb of Degree A word that changes the strength or intensity of an adjective or another adverb.
- Modify To change something slightly to make it more specific.
- Intensity The strength or power of something.