Degree adverbs show how strong, how much, or how far something goes. They modify another word and add information about intensity, quantity, or extent. In very cold, very gives the adjective cold a stronger meaning. In work really hard, really increases the force of the adverb hard. In almost full, almost shows that the amount is close to complete but not complete. Remove the degree adverb and the sentence keeps its basic meaning, but the level changes.

Very is the most common degree adverb for strong intensity. It makes adjectives and adverbs stronger in a direct way, as in very tired and very quickly. Really can be similar, but it often sounds a little more natural in conversation and can add feeling, as in really cold or really like it. Quite is weaker than very in many sentences and often means fairly or rather, as in quite busy or quite difficult. In some contexts, quite can sound strong, especially with words like amazing or sure, but its basic use is to show a middle level between weak and strong.

fairlyveryincrediblyextremelyratherabsolutelyespeciallyquitereallypretty

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It means more than others in the same groupIt means a strong degree and often sounds a little more expressive than veryIt means a high degree and adds strong force to the word it modifiesIt means to a very great degree and is stronger than veryIt means completely and is common with strong adjectivesIt means to some degree, but not extremelyIt means a fairly strong degree or sometimes a full degree, depending on contextIt means fairly in informal speech and is weaker than veryIt means more than expected and is often used in polite or formal speechIt means so much that it is surprising

Common degree adverbs for strength

Word	Definition
very	It means a high degree and adds strong force to the word it modifies.
really	It means a strong degree and often sounds a little more expressive than very.
quite	It means a fairly strong degree or sometimes a full degree, depending on context.
fairly	It means to some degree, but not extremely.
rather	It means more than expected and is often used in polite or formal speech.
extremely	It means to a very great degree and is stronger than very.
incredibly	It means so much that it is surprising.
pretty	It means fairly in informal speech and is weaker than very.
especially	It means more than others in the same group.
absolutely	It means completely and is common with strong adjectives.

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Degree adverbs usually come before the word they modify. They appear before adjectives in very small room and before adverbs in quite carefully. They can also come before some participles, as in really interested or completely finished. When a degree adverb modifies an adjective with a form of be, it stays between the verb and the adjective, as in The soup is very hot. With other verbs, the degree adverb usually comes before the modified word, as in She speaks very softly. The placement keeps the level word close to the part of speech it strengthens.

Basic placement of degree adverbs

Idea
A degree adverb usually comes before an adjective.
A degree adverb usually comes before another adverb.
A degree adverb usually comes before a past participle used as an adjective.
A degree adverb usually comes before an article plus noun in fixed patterns.
A degree adverb normally comes before the word it modifies.
Some degree adverbs can go after the verb be.

Too shows an excessive degree. It means there is more than is acceptable or useful, as in too loud or too expensive. It usually comes before an adjective or adverb, and it can also come before a noun phrase in patterns like too much sugar and too many people. Enough shows sufficiency. It means there is as much as needed, as in warm enough or quickly enough. With adjectives and adverbs, enough comes after the word it modifies, so the pattern is adjective or adverb + enough. With nouns, it comes before the noun, as in enough time and enough chairs.

Too and enough with degree and sufficiency

Idea
Use too when the degree is more than is acceptable.
Use enough when the degree is sufficient for a purpose.
Put enough before a noun.
Put enough after an adjective.
Use too before an adjective when you want to show an excessive quality.
Use too before an adverb when you want to show an excessive manner.

So strengthens adjectives and adverbs. It appears before an adjective or adverb in patterns like so tired and so slowly. It can also come before much and many, as in so much work and so many questions. Such strengthens a noun phrase. It usually appears in the pattern such + adjective + noun, as in such a nice day and such helpful people. It can also appear with a plural or uncountable noun directly, as in such problems and such patience. When the sentence shows a result, so often links to a clause with that, as in so hot that we left early or so many people that the room was full.

So and such patterns for stronger meaning

Usage	Explanation
So plus adjective	Use so plus an adjective to make the description stronger.
So plus adverb	Use so plus an adverb to make the manner stronger.
Such plus adjective plus noun	Use such plus adjective plus noun to strengthen the whole noun phrase.
So plus much	Use so much to show a large quantity or degree.
So plus many	Use so many with countable plural nouns.
Such plus noun	Use such plus noun when the noun alone carries the strong meaning.

Almost and nearly show that something is very close to a limit, but not at it yet. They often come before numbers, amounts, and time expressions, as in almost ten, nearly full, and almost done. They can also modify verbs and adverbs, as in almost missed the train and nearly always late. Completely shows full completion or total degree. It often comes before an adjective or past participle, as in completely different, completely full, and completely finished. It can also strengthen verbs in a limited number of common expressions, such as completely agree and completely understand.

practicallyaltogethernearlyalmostcompletelyvirtuallytotallyentirelythoroughlyfully

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It means almost completely in informal speechIt means in a complete and careful wayIt means completely, often in informal speechIt means almost entirely or very nearlyIt means in a total way with nothing left outIt means to the maximum or whole extentIt means completely or fully, often in a formal styleIt means completely or in totalIt means very close to happening or being trueIt means not quite, but very close to a limit or result

Degree adverbs for closeness and completion

Word	Definition
almost	It means not quite, but very close to a limit or result.
nearly	It means very close to happening or being true.
completely	It means in a total way with nothing left out.
fully	It means to the maximum or whole extent.
entirely	It means completely or fully, often in a formal style.
altogether	It means completely or in total.
practically	It means almost completely in informal speech.
virtually	It means almost entirely or very nearly.
totally	It means completely, often in informal speech.
thoroughly	It means in a complete and careful way.

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Some degree adverbs modify verbs and show how strongly an action happens. They usually come near the main verb, often before it in simple sentences, as in really enjoy music, really need help, and almost forgot my keys. With verb phrases, the adverb stays close to the main verb or to the part of the verb phrase it modifies. Really is common in this position, especially in conversation, as in I really want a break and She really works hard. When a verb is followed by another verb form, the degree adverb usually comes before the main verb, not before the object or complement.

Degree adverbs used with verbs

Usage	Explanation
Verb emphasis	Use really before a verb to add emphasis in everyday speech.
Strong desire	Use really before a verb to show a strong feeling or wish.
Simple action intensifier	Use very with a verb only in limited fixed expressions, not with most ordinary verbs.
Large amount	Use so much with verbs to show a large degree or amount.
High frequency	Use often and similar degree adverbs near the verb to show how frequently something happens.
Negative surprise	Use hardly with verbs to show that something happens only a little or almost not at all.

Pretty is often used in informal English to mean fairly or very, depending on the context. In pretty tired and pretty good, it usually means fairly. In some speech, it can sound stronger, especially with positive comments such as pretty amazing or pretty nice. Degree adverbs are not interchangeable. Very tired, quite tired, and pretty tired do not always give the same strength or tone. The choice changes how strong the description sounds and how formal or casual the sentence feels.

quitereallyprettyrightrather

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It is a very common informal booster that means very or stronglyIt can sound a little more formal or reserved than pretty in many everyday commentsIt can mean very in some informal fixed expressionsIt is often used to mean fairly in informal conversation and sounds casualIt is often used to mean fairly in informal conversation, especially with positive adjectives

Informal degree adverbs in English varieties

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
British English	quite	It is often used to mean fairly in informal conversation, especially with positive adjectives.	The pasta was quite nice.
American English	pretty	It is often used to mean fairly in informal conversation and sounds casual.	The cafe is pretty good.
British English	rather	It can sound a little more formal or reserved than pretty in many everyday comments.	That film was rather funny.
American English	really	It is a very common informal booster that means very or strongly.	I really like this song.
British English	right	It can mean very in some informal fixed expressions.	The bus was right on time.

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