Adverbs of degree in English

Adverbs of degree are an important part of English language. They help us express our feelings, thoughts, and ideas in a much more precise way.

In this reference, we will explore what adverbs of degree are, learn how to use degree adverbs in sentences, and look at a list of common words you can use in your own sentences.

What’s an adverb of degree

An adverb of degree is a word that modifies the strength or intensity of an action or feeling. They are used to indicate the degree to which something is done or felt. Adverbs of degree can be used to indicate the degree of comparison between two things. These are words like "very," "too," "extremely," and so on.

Adverbs of degree are normally placed before the word they modify, but can also be at the end of a sentence. We often use them indicate a degree of certainty or likelihood.

For example, you might use an adverb of degree to indicate how likely you are to do something, how likely something is to happen, or how sure you are of something. So, you can say "I'm very sure this is the right answer," or “I'm extremely likely to succeed.”

We also use them to indicate the amount or intensity of an action or feeling. For example, you might use a degree adverb to indicate how much time you spent on something, how much effort you put into something, or how much something matters to you. So, you can say  "I spent a lot of time on this project," or “This is extremely important to me.”

Adverbs of degree list

Many different adverbs can be used to indicate the degree to which something is done or felt.

Here are some common adverbs of degree examples:

• Absolutely
• Almost
• Completely
• Deeply
• Entirely
• Extremely
• Fully
• Greatly
• Highly
• Moderately
• Nearly
• Partly
• Quite
• Really
• Slightly
• Very

Many other adverbs of degree can come up, depending on the context and the message you are trying to convey. For example, you might use a rarer word such as "utterly" or "tremendously" to emphasize the intensity of your feelings with more literary language.

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How to use degree adverbs in sentences

Adverbs of degree can be used in a variety of ways to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Here are some examples of how adverbs of degree can be used in sentences:

• She almost failed the test.
• He completely forgot the answer.
• The painting is highly prized.
• She is very happy.
• They nearly succeeded.

As you can see, adverbs of degree provide more information but are not strictly necessary in the sentence. You could easily remove them and the sentence would still make sense, but they add an extra layer of detail that can help to paint a clearer picture.

When using adverbs of degree in sentences, it is important to make sure that the adverb is placed in the correct position in the sentence. Adverbs of degree are normally placed before the word they modify. For example, in the sentence “She almost failed the test”, the adverb “almost” is placed before the verb “failed”.

You could place them elsewhere in a sentence, but it often sounds less natural. For example, “She failed almost the test” does not sound quite right to native speakers and you should avoid speaking like this.

Avoid overuse!

Using too many adverbs of degree can make your sentences sound clumsy and awkward. Try to use them sparingly, only when necessary, and avoid using several in the same sentence.

For example,  “She almost very nearly failed the test” sounds strange and should be avoided. Instead, you could use “She almost failed the test” or “She nearly failed the test”.

Summary

Now that you understand the degree of adverb, you can use them to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs and provide more information about the strength or intensity of an action or feeling. Adverbs of degree can be used to indicate the degree of comparison between two things, certainty or likelihood, and the extent or intensity of an action or feeling.

With practice, you will be able to use all kinds of different adverbs in your language with fluency.