0
Alix21 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

It's quite or almost the same thing?

Hello,

are these two sentences both correct:

1) 'It's quite the same thing.'

2) 'It's almost the same thing.'

If they are both correct, do they have the same meaning or does sentence 1 mean 'it's completely the same thing'?

I don't quite(!) understand when 'quite' means 'fairly/rather' and when it means 'completely'. For example, in the sentence 'I quite understand', does it always mean 'completely' or does the meaning depend on the intonation?

Thank you for your help.

Alix21
  

Top answer

I think the basic difference is BrEng vs AmEng. ) And by the way, welcome to the Forums.

— Philip

  • I think the basic difference is BrEng vs AmEng.
  • ) And by the way, welcome to the Forums.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
I think the basic difference is BrEng vs AmEng. First two sentences: 1) = very much (Br); 2) = nearly (Am.)

In the negative, don't quite = almost, but not completely (Am), as you used it (Br?)

And by the way, welcome to the Forums.
0
0
Alix21does it always mean 'completely'
It does to me, but then I'm American. I don't understand this 'fairly/rather' thing at all. When I say something is "quite good", I mean it's very good. I'm told it doesn't always mean that in BrE. Maybe the same flexibility of meaning applies to some Americans as well.
0
0
Hi!
Quite means fairly/rather when it goes with a gradable adjective:
The town I live in is quite small

When quite goes with a non-gradable adjective, it means completely (100%):
I'm quite sure it's the right answer.

I know it probably comes really late....
0
0
AnonymousI know it probably comes really late.
Better late than never.

Still, I don't think the explanation is "quite right" because "sure" is gradable. less sure, more sure, etc. In fact, I think 'quite' would be anomalous with a truly non-gradable adjective. ?quite perfect, ?quite unique

I think there are still some mysteri
0
0
CalifJim ?quite perfect, ?quite uniqueI think there are still some mysteries to be explained.
Indeed. If something is perfect or unique it is like that, i.e. perfect and unique, full stop. Not quite, not fair in its perfectness or uniqueness.
0

Related Questions