OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR 115 ADVERBS OF DEGREE, E.G. VERY, QUITE Laura is a bit tired. She's been Mark is quite tired. He's been Sarah is very tired. She's had to working all morning. working all day. work late at the office. An adverb of degree makes the meaning weaker or stronger. Here are some more examples. SMALL DECREE (weaker) MEDIUM DEGREE LARGE DEGREE (stronger) a little late fairly unusual absolutely sure really ill slightly complicated pretty good completely mad rather nice extremely cold B Very cold, quite quickly, etc An adverb of degree (e.g. very) goes before an adjective (e.g. cold) or an adverb (e.g. quickly). ADVERB + ADJECTIVE ADVERB + ADVERB It's very cold today. The time passed quite quickly. Rita looked rather upset. We go on holiday fairly soon. This dress is absolutely marvellous. United played extremely well. Before a comparative we can use a bit, a little, a lot, far, much, rather and slightly. See also Unit 112B. I'm feeling a lot better today. These new trains go much faster. C Really hurting, quite enjoys, etc Some adverbs of degree can describe a verb. They usually go in mid position (close to the verb — see Unit 113B). My foot is really hurting. Laura quite enjoys shopping. I rather like this cake. Some adverbs of degree go at the end ol a sentence when they describe a verb. They are a bit, a little, a lot, awfully, much and terribly. Mark travels a lot. I'll open the window a little. The animals suffer terribly. Absolutely, completely and totally can go in mid position or at the end. We completely lost our way/We lost our way completely. I'm afraid I totally disagree./I'm afraid I disagree totally. D Much Now look at these sentences. Positive: I like this town very much, NOT I like this town much Negative: / don't like this town very much, OR I don't like this town much. In a positive statement we use very much. In a negative statement we can use either very much or much. 116 More about quite and rather 117 Too and enough 115 EXERCISES 1 Very, quite, a bit, etc (A) Write sentences using one of the phrases in brackets. ► (quite hungry or very hungry?) He's quite hungry. 3 ……………… (quite strong or very strong?) 1 (a bit busy or very busy?) ……………………… 4 ………… (fairly happy or extremely happy?) 2 (a bit thirsty or really thirsty?) 2 Very, quite and a bit (A) Put in very, quite or a bit. ► The bus service is all right. The buses are quite frequent. 1 I couldn't sleep because of the awful noise. The disco was…………. noisy. 2 The weather was OK - at least it didn't rain. It was good. 3 The train was almost on time. It was just………… late. 4 Someone paid a great deal of money for the house. It was………… expensive. 5 There were some very small traces of mud on the boots. They were………… dirty. 6 There was a medium amount of traffic on the road. It was…………….busy. 3 Very cold, really hurting, etc (B-D) Put the adverbs in the right place. Sometimes more than one answer is correct. ? These books are old (very). These books are very old. ? I hate travelling by air (really). I really hate travelling by air. 1 That radio is loud (a bit). 2 1 like my new job (quite). 3 Why don't you slow down (a little)? 4 The rain spoilt our day (completely). 5 We did the job quickly (fairly). 6 I feel better now (a lot). 7 We enjoyed the concert (very much). 8 My arms ached (terribly). 4 Adverbs of degree (A-D) Complete the advertisement for holiday apartments by choosing the correct words. Why not take this opportunity to buy a wonderful Interlux Timeshare apartment in San Manila? These are (►) a bit/rather/really luxurious apartments set in this (1) absolutely/slightly magnificent seaside resort, a (2) fairly/really beautiful and unspoilt place, which you'll like (3) much/very/very much. The apartments are (4) extremely/pretty/quite good value. And we are a company with a (5) fairly/quite/very good reputation. This is a (6) bit/slightly/totally safe way of investing your money. But hurry! People are buying up the apartments (7) a lot/very/very much quickly. . OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR 115 ADVERBS OF DEGREE, E.G. VERY, QUITE Laura is a bit tired. She's. either very much or much. 116 More about quite and rather 117 Too and enough 115 EXERCISES 1 Very, quite, a bit, etc (A) Write sentences using one of the