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Paul Evdokimov Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

quite/rather before a verb

Hi there,

I ran across this sentence: ''I quite/rather/fairly think I'm going to enjoy this party!"

"Rather'' fits the bill. 'Fairly' is not used before a verb. What about ''quite''?
For instance, we say 'I quite like smth.' and 'I rather like smth.' Is the meaning of 'quite' in the first sentence similar to the one of 'rather' in the second sentence, or is it 'I like smth. completely ' vs 'I like smth. to a certain degree '?

Now back to the question: is 'rather' the only correct option for the sentence?

Thanks for your comments.
  

Top answer

Paul Evdokimov Now back to the question: is 'rather' the only correct option for the sentence? It is. CJ

— CalifJim

  • Paul Evdokimov Now back to the question: is 'rather' the only correct option for the sentence?
  • It is.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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Paul EvdokimovNow back to the question: is 'rather' the only correct option for the sentence?
It is.

CJ
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In the US you would say simply: "I think I'm going to enjoy this party!"

"I quite think I'm going to enjoy this party!" is ungrammatical.

"I rather think I'm going to enjoy this party!" is grammatical, but it sounds snooty and highfalutin.

"I fairly think I'm going to enjoy this party!" is grammatical, but this is extremely literary usage and would almost never be hea
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Anonymous"I rather think I'm going to enjoy this party!" is grammatical, but it sounds snooty and highfalutin.
In British English "I rather think ..." is fairly normal and does not have those connotations.

I would accept "I quite think ...", though it seems less usual than "I rather think ...".
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