GRAMMAR BANK
UNIT 6. GRAMMAR B
MODIFIERS
We use modifiers before adjectives to make them stronger or weaker.
To use modifiers correctly, we need to know if the adjective is gradable or non-gradable.
Most adjectives are gradable. Such adjectives have different levels of that quality. For example, the weather can be a bit cold, very cold or extremely cold. With the help of modifiers very and extremely, we make the meaning stronger, however a bit makes the meaning weaker.
To make gradable adjectives stronger, we can use modifiers like very, extremely and really.
To make gradable adjectives weaker, we can use modifiers like fairly, a bit rather, and quite.
Fairly = more than average but less than very
Rather = quite; to a slight degree
Quite = a little, moderately but not very
NOTE: quite has different meanings when it is used with gradable and non-gradable adjectives
Quite + gradable adjectives
When we use quite with a gradable adjective, it usually means a little, moderately but not very. It has a similar meaning to rather or fairly.
Example: This program is quite long. (The program is long enough but not very long.)
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Some adjectives are are non gradable absoluze adjectives. For example, you can't be a bit free or very free. The idea can't be a bit right or very right. These adjectives describe absolute qualities. To make them stronger we have to use modifiers like absolutely, totally or completely.
Here is the list of some common non-gradable absolute adjectives: empty, full, dead, finished, equal, false, true, final, married, single, etc.
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There are also non-gradable strong adjectives. They already have the idea of 'very' in their definitions. If we want to make strong adjectives even stronger, we have to use absolutely, completely, quite or really.
NOTE: quite has different meanings when it is used with gradable and non-gradable adjectives
Quite + non-gradable adjectives
When we use quite with a non-gradable adjective, it usually means totally or completely.
Example: The program was quite incredible. (The program is absolutely incredible.)