English Adverbs Of Degree - Add Interest To Your Adjectives. Do you always use "very" or "a little" with adjectives? If you do, you're missing an opportunity to speak more natural English. In fact, native speakers have a huge range of adverbs of degree - both informal and formal - to use in different situations.
fairly = quite a lot, but not completely or extremely
"It's fairly complicated."
"This problem is fairly common."
"It's fairly complicated."
"This problem is fairly common."
ish = fairly, quite. (Used in spoken English to answer a question.)
"Was the comedian funny?"
"Well, ish."
"Was the comedian funny?"
"Well, ish."
slightly = a little
"He's slightly older than her.
"He's slightly older than her.
quite = fairly but not very
" It's quite hot today."
" It's quite hot today."
a little = not very much
"I'm a little worried about John."
"I'm a little worried about John."
a bit = a little (often used with negative adjectives)
"They're a bit badly-behaved."
"They're a bit badly-behaved."
a little bit = a little + a bit = used to minimise the negative meaning
"He's a little bit over-protective with his children."
"He's a little bit over-protective with his children."
pretty = fairly (often used in spoken English)
"This type of reaction is pretty common."
= very
"I felt pretty bad after eating there."
"This type of reaction is pretty common."
= very
"I felt pretty bad after eating there."
rather = fairly (more formal than "pretty" or "fairly")
"It's rather late. We should go."
"It's rather late. We should go."
reasonably = to a fairly high level
"I'm reasonably sure that this is the right road."
(also reasonably well / good / accurate)
"I'm reasonably sure that this is the right road."
(also reasonably well / good / accurate)
sort of / kind of = in some way
"He's sort of related to me."
"We're kind of related."
"He's sort of related to me."
"We're kind of related."
a tad = slightly (Informal English)
"I'm a tad tired. I think I'm going to go to bed."
"I'm a tad tired. I think I'm going to go to bed."
not at all / not especially / not so / not too (and none too) / not very = not very much (Use all these with a positive adjective)
"He's not at all kind."
"He's not especially rich."
"They're not so well-connected."
"He's not too clever." / "He's none too bright."
"That's not very diplomatic."
"He's not especially rich."
"They're not so well-connected."
"He's not too clever." / "He's none too bright."
"That's not very diplomatic."
More Advanced Adverbs + Adjectives
fractionally = slightly
"It's fractionally quicker if we go this way."
"It's fractionally quicker if we go this way."
marginally = by a very small amount
"She's marginally better than him at Maths.
"She's marginally better than him at Maths.
mildly = slightly
"Her attitude is mildly irritating.
"Her attitude is mildly irritating.
moderately = to a certain amount
"Their company is moderately successful."
"Their company is moderately successful."
modestly = to a small degree
"a modestly successful company"
"a modestly successful company"
remotely = slightly (use with a negative verb)
"I'm not remotely interested in your excuses!
"I'm not remotely interested in your excuses!
Also not remotely connected / not remotely funny
somewhat = to some degree (quite formal)
"We've noticed you've been somewhat distracted."
"We've noticed you've been somewhat distracted."
Also somewhat debatable / redundant / inconsistent / mystified / pointless
More Natural Adverb + Adjective Collocations
These particular collocations are worth learning as the adverb + adjective pairs are common and natural.
faintly = slightly
faintly absurd / faintly ridiculous / faintly amused / faintly visible
partly = in part
partly true / right / responsible / dependent / furnished / justified / related / successful
partially = not completely
partially clothed / partially sighted
vaguely = to a small degree
vaguely familiar / vaguely aware / vaguely similar / vaguely amusing
well-nigh / nigh on = almost completely
well-nigh impossible / nigh on impossible