quite
radically
rather
really
reasonably
remarkably
significantly
simply
slightly
somewhat
soundly
strongly
sufficiently
supremely
surprisingly
suspiciously
terribly
totally
tremendously
truly
unbelievably
utterly
very
virtually
well
wonderfully
from adjectives
6.47 Adverbs of degree are often formed from adjectives by adding -ly. Some are formed from qualitative adjectives, for example deeply, hugely, and strongly, and some from classifying adjectives, for example absolutely, perfectly, and utterly.
A few adverbs of degree are formed from postdeterminers, such as entirely.
See Chapter 2 for more information about types of adjectives.
position in clause
6.48 You can use adverbs of degree in the usual positions for adverbials.
I admired him greatly.
I greatly enjoyed working with them.
Yoga can greatly diminish stress levels.
However, you rarely use an adverb of degree at the beginning of a clause. For example, you do not usually say Greatly I admired him. For more information about placing adverbs at the beginning of a clause, see paragraph 9.70.
A few adverbs of degree are nearly always used in front of the main verb:
almost
largely
nearly
really
virtually
For example, you usually say He almost got there, not He got there almost.
This type of institution has largely disappeared now.
He really enjoyed talking about flying.
The result virtually ensures Scotland’s place in the finals.
Some adverbs of degree are almost always used after the main verb:
altogether
enormously
hard
outright
somewhat
tremendously
well
This was a different level of communication altogether.
The proposal was rejected outright.
I enjoyed the book enormously.
emphasizing adverbs
6.49 A group of adverbs of degree are called emphasizing adverbs. These are formed from emphasizing adjectives (see paragraph 2.36).
absolutely
completely
entirely
just
outright
perfectly
positively
purely
quite
really
simply
totally
truly
utterly
Note that the emphasizing adverb outright has the same form as an adjective, an adverb of manner, and an adverb of degree.
6.50 You use an emphasizing adverb such as absolutely, just, quite, or simply to add emphasis to the action described by a verb. Emphasizing adverbs usually come in front of verbs.
I quite agree.
I absolutely agree.
I just know I’m going to be late.
I simply adore this flat.
In a verb phrase, the emphasizing adverb comes after the auxiliary or modal and in front of the verb.
Someone had simply appeared.
I was absolutely amazed.
However, absolutely is occasionally used after verbs as well.
I agree absolutely with what Geoffrey has said.
For other uses of emphasizing adverbs, see paragraphs 9.62 to 9.63.
adverbs of degree in front of other adverbs: very carefully, fairly easily
6.51 You can use some adverbs of degree such as very and rather in front of other adverbs. When adverbs of degree are used like this they are called submodifying adverbs.
They can also be used in front of adjectives; this use is explained in paragraphs 2.140 to 2.168, where lists of submodifying adverbs and their meanings are also given.
He prepared his speech very carefully.
He was having to work awfully hard.
Things changed really dramatically.
We get on extremely well with our neighbours.
We were able to hear everything pretty clearly.
The paper disintegrated fairly easily.
He dressed rather formally.
Every child reacts somewhat differently.
Note that moderately and reasonably are mainly used in front of adverbs that do not end in -ly.
He works reasonably hard.
A few adverbs of degree can be used as in this way with comparatives: see the section beginning at paragraph 2.157.
This could all be done very much more quickly.
I thanked him again, even more profusely than before.
I hope you can see slightly more clearly what is going on.
Note that still can also be placed after the comparative.
They’re doing better in some respects now. Of course they’ve got to do better still.
other adverbs of degree
6.52 There are some special adverbs of degree. These include much, which is used as an adverb of degree in negative clauses, and in reported questions after how.
She was difficult as a child and hasn’t changed much.
These definitions do not help much.
Have you told him how much you love him?
Very much is also used in a similar way.
She is charming. We like her very much.
The comparative adverbs better and worse and the superlative adverbs best and worst are also adverbs of degree.
You know him better than anyone else.
It is the land itself which suffers worst.
More and less can be used as comparative adverbs of degree.
Her tears frightened him more than anything that had ever happened to him before.
The ground heats up less there.
Most and least can be used as superlative adverbs of degree.
She gave me the opportunity to do what I wanted to do most.
They staged some of his least known operas.