Hi.
What does quite mean? These two definitions are confuing:
When we use quite with a gradable adjective or adverb, it usually means ‘a little, moderately but not very’. It has a similar meaning to ‘rather’ or ‘fairly’
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/adverbs-of-degree/quite
When quite is placed in front of an adjective or adverb, it adds strength, but not as much strength as really or very. One way to think of quite is that it tells you that the degree of intensity is noticeable and more than expected.
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/qa/pretty-fairly-really-very-and-quite
Thanks in advance
soheil1 When quite is placed in front of an adjective or adverb, it adds strength, but not as much strength as really or very. These are different degrees of care that the chess player takes when he decides to move his queen: He is extremely careful when he moves his queen. He is really careful when he moves his queen.
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soheil1When quite is placed in front of an adjective or adverb, it adds strength, but not as much strength as really or very.
These are different degrees of care that the chess player takes when he decides to move his queen:
He is extremely careful when he moves his queen.
He is really careful when he moves his queen.
There's a kind of intensity in "quite" when you put that adverb before a noun as in quite a girl . Here, "quite" emphasizes the fact that the girl in question is somehow exceptional, noticeably good-looking, etc.
(I'm a non-native.)
There is often a kind of negativity or sarcasm associated with "quite." For example:
"He's good-looking." This is a straightforward statement that the person is good-looking.
"He's quite good-looking." This is no longer a straightforward statement. The implication here is of some negativity: the person is good-looking but not as good-looking as some others.
"He's a