Adverbs of degree show how much or to what extent something happens. They modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to express intensity. Common ones include very, too, quite, almost, and extremely, used to increase or limit meaning.
You’ll learn the meaning, position, and use of adverbs of degree in sentences.
What Are Adverbs of Degree?
Adverbs of degree modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to show intensity, extent, or degree. They answer questions like:
- How much?
- To what extent?
These adverbs help clarify the strength of an action or quality, ranging from minimal to maximum levels.
Modify Verbs
Adverbs of degree can show how strongly an action happens.
- She runs very fast.
- She runs quite fast.
- She runs extremely fast.
- She runs moderately fast.
Modify Adjectives
They can show how intense a quality is.
- The coffee is extremely hot.
- He’s quite tall.
- It’s a rather difficult exam.
Modify Other Adverbs
They can increase or reduce the intensity of another adverb.
- He solved the puzzle surprisingly quickly.
- She spoke very loudly.
- They work incredibly efficiently.
Types of Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree are often grouped into three categories: positive, comparative, and superlative. These types show the regular level, a comparison between two elements, or the highest/lowest level of intensity.
1. Positive Degree Adverbs
These adverbs show a standard or neutral level of intensity. They do not compare, but simply describe the degree of an action or quality as it is.
Common adverbs: very, quite, so, rather, extremely, too, somewhat
Examples:
- She’s very talented.
- The movie was quite entertaining.
- The weather is rather cold.
These adverbs give emphasis or moderate strength to the action or quality without comparing it to anything else.
2. Comparative Degree Adverbs
These adverbs compare the degree or intensity between two actions or qualities. The structure usually involves “more” or “less” followed by an adjective or adverb.
Common patterns: more + adjective/adverb, less + adjective/adverb
Common adverbs: more, less, better, worse, faster, louder
Examples:
- He speaks more loudly than I do.
- She runs less quickly than her brother.
- This coffee is less hot than the one I had yesterday.
These help highlight differences between two people, objects, or actions in terms of intensity.
3. Superlative Degree Adverbs
These adverbs show the highest or lowest level of intensity among three or more elements. They are often formed using “most” or “least” plus an adjective or adverb.
Common patterns: most + adjective/adverb, least + adjective/adverb
Common adverbs: most, least, best, worst, fastest, slowest
Examples:
- She performed the task most efficiently.
- This is the most beautifully written book I’ve ever read.
- He studies the least efficiently in class.
Superlative adverbs help express extremes—either the best, worst, most, or least degree of something.
Understanding these three types helps learners describe actions and qualities with clarity, comparison, and emphasis.
Placement of Adverbs of Degree:
They can be placed in different positions in a sentence, depending on the emphasis you want to give:
Before the Adjective or Adverb: Generally, They are placed before the adjective or adverb they modify. For example,
- It’s very cold outside.
- She really enjoys painting.
At the Beginning of the Sentence: To emphasize the intensity, you can start the sentence with the adverb of degree. For example,
- Almost out of breath, she finished the race.
- Very slowly, the car pulled away.
After the Main Verb: Some of them can be placed after the main verb, especially if the verb is “be.” For example,
- The party was so much fun.
- The soup tastes slightly salty.
Exceptions:
In some cases, They can be placed at the end of a sentence for emphasis.
Example: She danced beautifully, indeed.
Degree Adverbs vs. Intensifiers:
| Feature | Degree Adverbs | Intensifiers |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Show how much or to what extent | Add emphasis without measuring degree |
| Quantifiable? | Yes | No |
| Common Examples | very, extremely, somewhat, quite, too | really, so, such, absolutely, totally |
| Modifies | Verbs, adjectives, other adverbs | Usually adjectives and adverbs |
| Example | She is extremely happy. | She is really happy. |
| Grammatical Purpose | Describes degree or intensity | Highlights or amplifies emotion |
| Use in Sentences | Precise, often used in grammar explanations | Informal, used for stylistic emphasis |
Adverbs of Degree Examples
- The coffee is very hot.
- She’s quite excited about the upcoming trip.
- He’s too tired to go to the party.
- The movie was extremely funny.
- The weather is really nice today.
- The book is quite interesting.
- He speaks English fluently.
- The restaurant is very crowded tonight.
- She ran faster than I expected.
- The car is moving slowly in traffic.
- The food is too spicy.
- She’s the smartest student in the class.
- The train arrived early at the station.
- The exam was pretty difficult.
- The lecture was incredibly informative.
List of Adverbs of Degree
- Absolutely
- Almost
- Barely
- Completely
- Entirely
- Extremely
- Horribly
- Unusually
- Fairly
- Fully
- Greatly
- Highly
- Incredibly
- Intensely
- Nearly
- Perfectly
- Quite
- Rather
- Hardly
- Really
- Remarkably
- Just
- Slightly
- So
- Terribly
- Somewhat
- Too
- Strongly
- Totally
- Very
Comparative:
- Better
- Farther
- Faster
- Less
- More
- Later
- Earlier
- Worse
Superlative:
- Best
- Fastest
- Least
- Most
- Latest
- Worst
Adverbs of Degree FAQs
Adverbs of degree are a type of adverb that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the intensity, extent, or degree of an action, quality, or circumstance. They provide information about how much or to what extent something is happening or being done.
They modify other words to provide more information about their intensity. They help answer questions like “How much?” or “To what extent?” For example, in the sentence “She’s very talented,” the adverb “very” modifies the adjective “talented.”
They specifically indicate the intensity or extent of an action, quality, or circumstance. Other types of adverbs can convey time, place, manner, frequency, and more.
There are three main types:
1. Positive: These adverbs indicate the basic level of intensity, like “very,” “quite,” “so,” “rather,” etc.
2. Comparative: These adverbs compare the intensity between two or more things, using “more,” “less,” “better,” “worse,” etc.
3. Superlative: These adverbs indicate the highest or lowest level of intensity among a group, using “most,” “least,” “best,” “worst,” etc.
Common examples include “very,” “quite,” “too,” “so,” “extremely,” “really,” “almost,” “more,” and “most.”
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