Degree adverbs are an essential component of the English language, serving as crucial tools in modifying adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. These adverbs provide additional information about the intensity, extent, or degree of an action or quality. For language learners, understanding how to use degree adverbs effectively can significantly enhance both written and spoken communication. This article delves into the various types of degree adverbs, their functions, and provides practical examples to help you master their usage.
What Are Degree Adverbs?
Degree adverbs are adverbs that modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to indicate the level or intensity of an action, attribute, or another adverb. They help to answer questions such as “How much?” or “To what extent?”. For example, in the sentence “She is extremely happy,” the adverb “extremely” modifies the adjective “happy” to show the degree of happiness.
Types of Degree Adverbs
Degree adverbs can be categorized into several types based on the level of intensity they convey. These include:
1. **High Degree Adverbs**: These adverbs indicate a high level of intensity or extent. Examples include “very,” “extremely,” “absolutely,” and “completely.”
2. **Medium Degree Adverbs**: These adverbs show a moderate level of intensity. Examples include “quite,” “fairly,” and “rather.”
3. **Low Degree Adverbs**: These adverbs denote a low level of intensity. Examples include “slightly,” “a bit,” and “somewhat.”
4. **Minimizers**: These adverbs indicate the smallest degree possible. Examples include “barely,” “hardly,” and “scarcely.”
Functions of Degree Adverbs
Degree adverbs serve several functions in a sentence. Some of the primary functions include:
1. **Modifying Adjectives**: Degree adverbs often modify adjectives to indicate the intensity of a quality. For example, “The movie was incredibly exciting.”
2. **Modifying Verbs**: Degree adverbs can also modify verbs to show the extent of an action. For example, “He completely forgot about the meeting.”
3. **Modifying Other Adverbs**: Degree adverbs can modify other adverbs to show the degree of another adverb’s intensity. For example, “She sings extremely well.”
High Degree Adverbs
High degree adverbs express a strong intensity or extent. They are often used to emphasize the extreme nature of an adjective, verb, or another adverb. Here are some common high degree adverbs and examples of their usage:
1. **Very**: This is one of the most commonly used high degree adverbs. It can modify adjectives and other adverbs.
– “She is very intelligent.”
– “He runs very quickly.”
2. **Extremely**: This adverb indicates an even higher degree than “very.”
– “The weather is extremely cold today.”
– “She was extremely disappointed with the results.”
3. **Absolutely**: This adverb often conveys a sense of totality or completeness.
– “The cake was absolutely delicious.”
– “I absolutely agree with your opinion.”
4. **Completely**: Similar to “absolutely,” this adverb indicates a full or total degree.
– “He is completely unaware of the situation.”
– “The project is completely finished.”
Medium Degree Adverbs
Medium degree adverbs indicate a moderate level of intensity. They are useful for expressing a balanced or less extreme degree. Here are some common medium degree adverbs and their examples:
1. **Quite**: This adverb suggests a moderate but noticeable degree.
– “The book is quite interesting.”
– “She is quite talented.”
2. **Fairly**: This adverb indicates a moderate level, often slightly less than “quite.”
– “The test was fairly easy.”
– “He is fairly good at playing the guitar.”
3. **Rather**: This adverb suggests a moderate degree, often used to express surprise or unexpectedness.
– “The film was rather good.”
– “It is rather unusual to see snow in April.”
Low Degree Adverbs
Low degree adverbs indicate a small or slight level of intensity. They are useful for downplaying the extent of an adjective, verb, or another adverb. Here are some common low degree adverbs and their examples:
1. **Slightly**: This adverb indicates a very small degree.
– “The soup is slightly too salty.”
– “He was slightly nervous before the performance.”
2. **A bit**: This informal adverb suggests a small degree.
– “She is a bit tired after the long journey.”
– “The movie was a bit boring.”
3. **Somewhat**: This adverb indicates a small to moderate degree.
– “The task was somewhat challenging.”
– “He is somewhat confused about the instructions.”
Minimizers
Minimizers are degree adverbs that indicate the smallest possible degree. They are often used to downplay the intensity or extent. Here are some common minimizers and their examples:
1. **Barely**: This adverb indicates that something is done to the smallest extent possible.
– “She could barely hear the speaker.”
– “The plant is barely surviving.”
2. **Hardly**: This adverb suggests that something is done to a very limited extent.
– “He hardly ever visits his hometown.”
– “The food was hardly touched.”
3. **Scarcely**: This adverb indicates a very minimal extent or degree.
– “There was scarcely any food left after the party.”
– “She could scarcely believe her eyes.”
Position of Degree Adverbs in Sentences
The position of degree adverbs in a sentence can vary depending on what they are modifying. Here are some general rules to help you place degree adverbs correctly:
1. **Modifying Adjectives**: Degree adverbs typically come before the adjective they are modifying.
– “The test was extremely difficult.”
– “She is quite happy with her new job.”
2. **Modifying Verbs**: Degree adverbs usually come before the verb they are modifying, but they can also appear at the end of the sentence for emphasis.
– “He completely forgot about the appointment.”
– “She laughed a bit.”
3. **Modifying Other Adverbs**: Degree adverbs are placed before the adverb they are modifying.
– “He runs very quickly.”
– “She sings extremely well.”
Common Mistakes with Degree Adverbs
Language learners often make mistakes when using degree adverbs. Here are some common errors and tips on how to avoid them:
1. **Overusing High Degree Adverbs**: Using high degree adverbs too frequently can make your writing or speech seem exaggerated or less credible.
– Incorrect: “The movie was very very good.”
– Correct: “The movie was extremely good.”
2. **Misplacing Degree Adverbs**: Placing degree adverbs in the wrong position can lead to confusion or awkward sentences.
– Incorrect: “She is happy very.”
– Correct: “She is very happy.”
3. **Using Inappropriate Degree Adverbs**: Choosing the wrong degree adverb can change the meaning or intensity of your sentence.
– Incorrect: “The test was slightly difficult.” (if the test was very hard)
– Correct: “The test was extremely difficult.”
Practice Exercises
To help you master the use of degree adverbs, here are some practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate degree adverb from the list: very, extremely, quite, fairly, slightly, a bit, barely, hardly, scarcely.
1. The weather is _______ cold today.
2. She is _______ tired after the long journey.
3. The book is _______ interesting.
4. He could _______ believe his eyes.
5. The soup is _______ too salty.
6. The test was _______ easy.
7. She could _______ hear the speaker.
8. The plant is _______ surviving.
9. He runs _______ quickly.
Answers:
1. extremely
2. a bit
3. quite
4. scarcely
5. slightly
6. fairly
7. barely
8. barely
9. very
Conclusion
Degree adverbs are indispensable tools in the English language that help to convey the intensity, extent, or degree of an action or quality. By understanding the different types of degree adverbs—high, medium, low, and minimizers—you can enhance your ability to express yourself more precisely. Remember to pay attention to the position of degree adverbs in sentences and avoid common mistakes. With practice, you’ll find that using degree adverbs becomes second nature, allowing you to communicate with greater clarity and nuance.
Whether you’re writing an essay, having a conversation, or giving a presentation, the appropriate use of degree adverbs will enable you to convey the exact degree of intensity you intend. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using degree adverbs like a pro!
