Degree adverbs describe the intensity, level, or degree of an action, adjective, or other adverbs. They give more information about "how much" or "to what extent" something happens.
What Degree Adverbs Do
Degree adverbs tell us about the strength or intensity of something. We can use them with verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Example 1 (adjective): She is very happy.
- Example 2 (verb): I completely understand.
- Example 3 (adverb): He runs quite quickly.
Common Degree Adverbs
Here are some of the most common degree adverbs, grouped by how strong they are:
- Very strong: absolutely, completely, totally, entirely
- Strong: very, really, so, extremely, highly
- Medium: quite, rather, pretty, fairly, somewhat
- Weak: a little, slightly, mildly, just, hardly
Using Degree Adverbs
. With Adjectives
Degree adverbs come before the adjective.
- She is very tired.
- The movie was quite interesting.
. With Other Adverbs
Degree adverbs come before the other adverb.
- He runs really fast.
- She sings quite well.
. With Verbs
Degree adverbs usually come before the verb or after the auxiliary verb.
- I completely agree.
- She has totally forgotten.
Examples in Sentences
| Example Type | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Adjective | The coffee is too hot. |
| Adverb | She drives very carefully. |
| Verb | I almost finished my homework. |
Translate "The coffee is too hot." into English.
The coffee is too hot.
"Too" correctly appears before the adjective "hot" to indicate excessive degree.
Special Notes
- Some degree adverbs are stronger than others. For example, absolutely is stronger than quite.
- Don’t use degree adverbs with comparatives and superlatives directly (e.g., don’t say “more very tall”).
- Be careful with too and enough. They have specific rules:
- “too” + adjective/adverb means more than desired: This bag is too heavy.
- adjective/adverb + “enough” means sufficient: She is fast enough.
Quick Tips
- Use degree adverbs to add detail and precision.
- Choose the right level of intensity for your meaning.
- Practice by identifying degree adverbs in reading and listening materials.
Summary
Degree adverbs answer the question “how much?” They modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs to show intensity or degree.
What question do degree adverbs answer in English grammar?
'How much?' or 'To what extent?'
Degree adverbs indicate the extent or intensity of an action or quality, so they answer 'how much?' or 'to what extent?'.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
