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Hurricane Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

About "quite"

I used "quite" as "very" for a long time, but recently, a friend told me it's wrong, for example:

very nice > nice > quite nice

Is it correct? thanks!
  

Top answer

Actually, in traditional usage, "quite" in this context means "completely", or "totally". So, in fact, the order is: nice BUT... This usage is dying out in modern speech.

— Rommie

  • Actually, in traditional usage, "quite" in this context means "completely", or "totally".
  • So, in fact, the order is: nice BUT...
  • This usage is dying out in modern speech.
  • It remains in such phrases as "not quite finished" (meaning not completely finished), or "quite the gentleman".
  • But mostly, modern usage has "quite" synonymous with "rather".
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2 Answers
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Actually, in traditional usage, "quite" in this context means "completely", or "totally". So, in fact, the order is:

nice
BUT...
This usage is dying out in modern speech. It remains in such phrases as "not quite finished" (meaning not completely finished), or "quite the gentleman". But mostly, modern usage has "quite" synonymous with "rather". So ... in modern usage:
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Quite right, I suppose but wouldn't it be " quite a gentleman" as in He is quite a gentleman.
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