Adverbs of degree
An adverb of degree is a word that shows the intensity, extent or level of an adjective, verb, another adverb or clause. It answers "to what degree?" or "how much?". Common examples include "very", "extremely", "quite", "too", "enough" and "almost", such as in "She is extremely talented" or "He almost finished."
Types of adverbs of degree
Intensifiers
Strengthen the meaning of the word they modify, showing a high degree.
e.g. very tired, extremely difficult, so happy
Diminishers (downtoners)
Weaken or reduce the intensity of the word they modify.
e.g. slightly annoyed, a bit cold, barely awake
Sufficiency adverbs
Show whether something reaches, exceeds or fails to reach a required amount.
e.g. too expensive, good enough, not enough time
Approximators
Indicate that something is close to, but not exactly, a complete degree or amount.
e.g. almost finished, nearly perfect, practically identical
Completive adverbs
Show that an action or quality has reached its full extent.
e.g. completely exhausted, totally agree, entirely different
Rules to remember
- Most adverbs of degree are placed directly before the adjective, adverb or verb they modify, as in "very quiet" or "almost ran".
- "Enough" is unusual because it goes after the adjective or adverb it modifies: "good enough", not "enough good", but before a noun: "enough time".
- "Too" suggests an excessive or negative degree, while "very" is neutral: "too tired to walk" versus "very tired".
- Some degree adverbs like "quite" change meaning depending on what follows: "quite good" (fairly good) versus "quite amazing" (extremely amazing, with a gradable/non-gradable distinction).
- Degree adverbs modifying verbs usually come before the main verb but after auxiliary or "be" verbs, as in "She almost forgot" or "He is completely wrong".
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| The exam was extremely challenging for most students. | "Extremely" intensifies the adjective "challenging". |
| I am too busy to attend the meeting today. | "Too" shows an excessive degree that causes a negative result. |
| She is not old enough to drive yet. | "Enough" follows the adjective "old" to show sufficiency. |
| We almost missed the last train home. | "Almost" shows the action came close to happening but did not. |
| He was slightly disappointed with the final result. | "Slightly" softens the degree of the adjective "disappointed". |
| They completely rebuilt the house after the storm. | "Completely" shows the verb's action reached its full extent. |
| This restaurant is quite popular among tourists. | "Quite" moderately intensifies the adjective "popular". |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: This coffee is enough hot to drink.
Correct: This coffee is hot enough to drink.
Incorrect: She is very exhausted after the marathon.
Correct: She is completely exhausted after the marathon.
Incorrect: I very like this song.
Correct: I like this song very much.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using a varied range of degree adverbs accurately, rather than repeating "very" constantly, directly improves your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score in IELTS Writing and Speaking. Examiners notice when candidates precisely distinguish between "too" (negative excess), "enough" (sufficiency) and non-gradable intensifiers like "completely" or "absolutely". Correct placement, especially with "enough" after adjectives, also signals higher grammatical control, helping push scores from band 6 towards band 7 or above.
Frequently asked questions
What is an adverb of degree?
It is an adverb that shows how much, how intense or to what extent an adjective, verb, another adverb or clause is, such as "very", "too", "almost" and "enough".
What is the difference between "too" and "very"?
"Very" simply intensifies without implying a problem, as in "very hot", while "too" implies an excessive degree causing a negative result, as in "too hot to drink".
Where does "enough" go in a sentence?
"Enough" goes after an adjective or adverb, as in "tall enough", but before a noun, as in "enough money".
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