Understanding Adverbs of Degree

In English grammar, adverbs of degree are used to show the intensity, level, or extent of an action, adjective, or another adverb. They help explain how much or to what degree something happens.

What Are Adverbs of Degree?

Adverbs of degree are words that modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs by showing the amount, strength, or intensity of something.

They usually answer the questions:

How much?
To what extent?

Examples:

The movie was very interesting.
She is extremely talented.
He works too hard.
I am quite tired.

Common Adverbs of Degree

Adverb	Meaning	Example
Very	A high degree	The book is very useful.
Really	Strong emphasis	She is really happy.
Extremely	A very high degree	The weather is extremely hot.
Quite	To a certain degree	The test was quite easy.
Too	More than necessary	The bag is too heavy.
Enough	The required amount	The room is big enough.
Almost	Nearly	I almost finished my work.
Completely	Fully	The problem is completely solved.

Adverbs of Degree With Adjectives

Adverbs of degree are often used before adjectives to show their intensity.

The water is very cold.
She is extremely intelligent.
The movie was quite interesting.

Adverbs of Degree With Adverbs

Some adverbs of degree modify other adverbs to show a stronger or weaker meaning.

He runs very quickly.
She speaks English extremely well.
They arrived quite late.

Adverbs of Degree With Verbs

Some adverbs of degree can modify verbs to show the level of an action.

I really like this book.
She almost forgot her keys.
He completely changed his opinion.

Common Adverbs of Degree Groups

Strong Degree	Medium Degree	Small Degree
extremely	quite	a little
completely	rather	slightly
absolutely	fairly	almost

Difference Between Very and Too

Very increases the meaning of an adjective or adverb, while too means more than necessary and often suggests a problem.

The coffee is very hot. (High temperature)
The coffee is too hot to drink. (Impossible or difficult to drink)

Difference Between Enough and Too

Enough means the required amount, while too means more than needed.

The room is big enough for five people.
The room is too small for five people.

Position of Adverbs of Degree

The position depends on the word they modify.

She is very kind. (Before adjective)
He runs very quickly. (Before adverb)
I really enjoy learning English. (Before verb)

Common Mistakes With Adverbs of Degree

Incorrect	Correct
She is very beautifully.	She is very beautiful.
The bag is enough heavy.	The bag is heavy enough.
This is too much expensive.	This is too expensive.

Exercises and Practice

Choose the correct adverb of degree:

The movie was _____ interesting. (very / yesterday)
He is _____ tired after work. (extremely / outside)
The box is _____ heavy to carry. (too / always)
She speaks English _____ well. (really / tomorrow)

Understanding adverbs of degree helps learners express intensity, opinions, and feelings more accurately in English conversations and writing.