Adverbs of degree in English: The usage & exercises

Adverbs of degree are one of the important grammar items in English. What adverbs of degree are commonly used? In this article, PREP will help you better understand this topic. Let's learn more about it together!

I. What are adverbs of degree?

1. Definition

Adverbs of degree are used to modify, describe, or define the level, or intensity of an action, adjective, or other adverb. Corresponding to each level will be multiple descriptive adverbs that can replace each other. Below are some adverb of degree examples:

• She was very excited about the upcoming trip. 
• She was extremely happy with her test results. 
• The movie was utterly boring and uneventful. 
• She is totally committed to her new job. 

2. Category

Adverbs of degree are divided into 3 types based on intensity. Let’s see the adverb of degree list in the below table:

II. Common adverbs of degree in English

Adverbs of degree in English are used to describe the increasing or decreasing level of an adjective or another adverb, helping to convey the meaning more accurately in sentences. Let's list out some common adverbs of degree in English together with PREP!

III. The position of adverbs of degree in sentences

Where do adverbs of degree typically appear in an English sentence? Let's explore the positions of these grammar items together with PREP!

• Adverbs of degree often come before adjectives. For example:
  • She was very happy to receive the award.
  • The movie was extremely exciting. 
  • I’m really tired after a long day at work. 
• Some adverbs of degree such as almost, barely, hardly, just, little, nearly, rather, really, and scarcely can be placed before the main verb of the sentence, modifying the verb. For example:
• I almost missed the bus this morning. 
• The restaurant was so crowded that we could barely find a table. 
• I just finished cooking dinner. 
• He has little experience in public speaking. 
• The project is nearly complete.

IV. Inversion of adverbs of degree in English

In the inverted sentences, the adverb of degree is moved before the main verb to create a different grammatical structure and emphasize the meaning of the adverb. Let's explore inverted sentence structures with common adverbs of degree together with PREP!

Inversion structure of adverbs of degree:

Adverb of degree + auxiliary verb + S + V

Here are some common adverbs of degree often appearing in inverted sentences that PREP has discovered. Please pay attention:

V. Adverb of degree exercises with detailed answers

Below are 2 exercises on adverbs of degree provided by PREP for you to practice. Remember to complete them fully and then check the answers below to better understand the knowledge from this article!

Exercise 1: Rewrite the following sentences in the inverted form with an adverb of degree.

• I never want to see you again.

➡ Never ……………………………………………………………………

• She rarely goes out at night.

➡ Rarely …………………………………………………………………….

• He not only studies law, but he also works part-time.

➡ Not only …………………………………………………………………

• He scarcely spoke during the entire meeting.

➡ Scarcely …………………………………………………………………

• She seldom wears dresses; she prefers jeans.

➡ Seldom …………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 2: Identify the adverbs of degree in the following sentences

• The garden is pretty beautiful.
• The difficulty level of the game is moderately high.
• The price is fairly reasonable.
• She is really talented in singing.
• The movie was quite entertaining.
• I absolutely love this book.
• I totally forgot about our meeting.
• He barely passed the exam with a minimum score.
• The book had a profoundly impact on me.
• The food was terribly salty.

Detailed answers:

Exercise 1:

• Never do I want to see you again.
• Rarely does she go out at night. 
• Not only does he study law, but he also works part-time. 
• Scarcely did he speak during the entire meeting. 
• Seldom does she wear dresses; she prefers jeans. 

Exercise 2: 

• pretty 
• moderately 
• fairly 
• really 
• quite 
• absolutely 
• totally 
• barely 
• profoundly 
• terribly 

Adverbs of degree are one of the important grammar items in English. You must have a firm grasp of this knowledge to avoid losing points during real tests. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and PREP will be ready to answer you!