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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Quite/fairly/pretty/rather
can one of you please answer this "very important to me" question..and I really need these questions to be answered by someone really knowing the grammar of English, not by a student or "give a shot" teacher..the question is that:
what are the structural differences among rather, quite, pretty and fairly?
I want the responder to say like: pretty takes adj, not noun; quite can be used before nouns adverbs etc..
note: I've been scanning forums and books all night and got some answers but not satisfied..trying to make some generalizations for my job, I'm a teacher also, so I want a better teacher teach me..thanks in advance..
what are the structural differences among rather, quite, pretty and fairly?
I want the responder to say like: pretty takes adj, not noun; quite can be used before nouns adverbs etc..
note: I've been scanning forums and books all night and got some answers but not satisfied..trying to make some generalizations for my job, I'm a teacher also, so I want a better teacher teach me..thanks in advance..
Top answer
) All of them - rather, quite, pretty, rather - are the same part of speech (adverbs). Therefore structurally, as adverbs, they can modify adjectives, adverbs or verbs. In fact, they can be used interchangeably in some cases: I know him pretty well.
- ) All of them - rather, quite, pretty, rather - are the same part of speech (adverbs).
- Therefore structurally, as adverbs, they can modify adjectives, adverbs or verbs.
- In fact, they can be used interchangeably in some cases: I know him pretty well.
- I know him quite well.
- I know him rather well.
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2 Answers
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Anon:
I assume that you mean the adverb definition of "pretty" (It rained pretty hard today.)
All of them - rather, quite, pretty, rather - are the same part of speech (adverbs).
Therefore structurally, as adverbs, they can modify adjectives, adverbs or verbs.
In fact, they can be used interchangeably in some cases:
I know him pretty well.
I know him quite well.
I assume that you mean the adverb definition of "pretty" (It rained pretty hard today.)
All of them - rather, quite, pretty, rather - are the same part of speech (adverbs).
Therefore structurally, as adverbs, they can modify adjectives, adverbs or verbs.
In fact, they can be used interchangeably in some cases:
I know him pretty well.
I know him quite well.
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From the collection of words you've chosen, it seems to me that you have the "+ adjective/adverb" use in mind, meaning, roughly, "to some reasonable degree". For example:
"He looks rather/quite/pretty/fairly pale." (+ adjective)
"He tires rather/quite/pretty/fairly easily." (+ adverb)
The words can have other grammatical functions too. Definitions and example phrases ar
"He looks rather/quite/pretty/fairly pale." (+ adjective)
"He tires rather/quite/pretty/fairly easily." (+ adverb)
The words can have other grammatical functions too. Definitions and example phrases ar
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