Adverbs of frequency

always, generally, often, frequently, usually, normally, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, never, ever

These adverbs normally go before a full verb, but after be or an auxiliary verb. They usually watch TV.

She never eats sweets.

I always go to work by bus.

BUT: They are usually in bed by 11.30.

Sometimes, usually, normally, frequently, often and generally can also come after the subject in negative sentences.

We normally don't worry if the teacher is late.

These adverbs can also go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

Sometimes I read books on historical topics.

Do you see your parents often?

All the time, every (other) day, several times a week, once a week, once in a while, not even once, etc. normally go at the end (or at the beginning) of a sentence

They watch news programmes every evening.

I do aerobics twice a week.

Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly normally go at the end of a sentence.

I receive mail daily.

Exercise 19. Put the adverbs in the correct place in the sentences. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

Example: She always tries to visit her parents at the weekends. (always).

1. They listen to the radio. (every morning).

2. I'm at home before 8 o'clock. (seldom).

3. I brush my teeth. (always/three times a day).

4. My parents don't come to see me. (often).

5. They don't get up late from Monday to Friday. (usually).

6. He is late for work. (almost never).

7. I play the piano. (rarely).

8. The boss is out. (frequently).

9. My father smokes more than ten cigarettes a day. (hardly ever).

Adverbs of degree

fairly, extremely, awfully, terribly, etc. are used:

a) before adjectives and other adverbs.

He works in a fairly large office.

My friend is extremely intelligent.

b) before the main verb

I fairly enjoy our visit to the art gallery.

quite and rather

quite/rather + ADJECTIVE/ADVERB/VERB

The task is quite difficult.

She speaks English rather fluently.

I quite like football but it's not my favourite sport.

quite = means "less than very"

He's quite intelligent. (= less than very intelligent)

quite = means "completely" with some words:

sure	impossible
right	extraordinary
true	wrong
different	safe
unnecessary	certain, etc.

The meeting tomorrow is quite impossible.

Are you sure? - I'm quite sure.

quite a (an) + NOUN

It's quite an interesting film.

rather + negative words or ideas = "quite"

He's rather lazy. (= He's quite lazy.)

rather + positive words or ideas = "surprisingly, unusually"

These oranges are rather nice. (= These oranges are surprisingly/unusually nice.)

rather a (an) + NOUN or a rather + NOUN

It's rather an interesting film. It's a rather interesting film.

too and very

She's a good worker. She works very quickly.

He works too quickly and makes a lot of mistakes.

too (= more than necessary or more than good)

Too + ADJECTIVE/ ADVERB

The prices in that shop are too high.

He drives too dangerously.

Too + MUCH/MANY

Doctors say that too much sugar is bad for you.

There are too many mistakes in your test.

too and enough

They haven't got enough money to eat in restaurants every day. It's too expensive.

ADJECTIVE/ADVERB + enough

She is old enough to get married. He doesn't work quickly enough.

enough + NOUN

We've got enough money to buy that car now.

Exercise 20. Put the adverbs of degree in the correct place in the sentences. Choose from the box.

аwfully extremely pretty terribly fairly very completely

1. His new book is __ good. I think it's one of his best.

2. She sings __ well.

3. He's got __ much money.

4. The traffic is __ slow today.

5. I'm __ sorry about this.

6.1 __ disagree with John Taylor.

7. Maria speaks English __ well, doesn't she?

Exercise 21. Complete these sentences with the words in brackets. Use quite with the positive word and rather with the negative one.

Example: Sue is quite clever but rather lazy, (clever/lazy).

1. The weather is __ but __. (warm/windy).

2. Julia's flat is __ but __. (comfortable/untidy).

3. The water in the pool is __ but __. (warm/dirty).

4. The song is __ but __. (good/long).

5. The film is __ but __. (exciting/frightening).

6. The car goes __ but it's __. (well/noisy).

Exercise 22. Complete the sentences using the correct word in brackets.

1. He's not at all like his sister; they are __ different. (quite/rather).

2. There is nothing in the envelope. It's __ empty. (quite/rather).

3. Today the weather is __ bad. It's much worse than yesterday. (quite/rather).

4. The book is __ boring. Don't read it! (quite/rather).

5. I'm afraid I can't do what you ask. It's __ impossible. (quite/rather).

6. Jane's health is __ poor. (quite/rather).

Exercise 23. Rewrite the following sentences with rather a (an) or quite a (an).

Example: The book is rather interesting. - It's rather an interesting book. The boy is quite smart. - He's quite a smart boy.

1. Our house is quite big. It's __.

2. The car is rather expensive. It's __.

3. Pam is rather naughty. She's __.

4. The problem is rather difficult. It's __.

5. His job is quite challenging. It's __.

6. The town is rather pleasant. It's __.

Exercise 24. Complete the sentences. Use too and enough. Use the words in brackets.

Example: (loud/soft) I can't hear the music. It isn't loud enough. It's too soft.

1. (big/small) The dictionary isn't __. It's __.

2. (wide/narrow) This is an old street. It's __. It isn't __.

3. (bad/good) Jim's test paper is __. It isn't __.

4. (safe/dangerous) Careful! The road isn't __. It's __.

5. (old/modern) Their furniture is __. It isn't __.

6. (quiet/noisy) Our neighbourhood isn't __. It's __.

Exercise 25. Complete each sentence using too and enough and an adjective or adverb in the box.

warm much big old many early small expensive big

Example: We can't go to the beach today because the weather isn't warm enough. There's too much salt in this soup. I can't eat it.

1. This jacket is ___ for me. It's not my size.

2. The flat isn't really __ for all of us. We need a bigger one.

3. It's __ to have dinner. It's only four o'clock.

4. Ted isn't __ to drive a car. He's 14.

5. I can't buy this dress. It's __.

6. The bus is overcrowded. There are __ people on it.