Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #284 of 305

Quite, Rather, Fairly, Pretty

They soften or strengthen adjectives.

Examples

  • The film was rather good.

Key rules

  • Fairly is weaker and usually positive (fairly good)
  • Quite is moderate in British English (quite good)
  • Rather is stronger and often negative (rather cold)
  • Pretty is informal and similar to fairly or quite

Common mistakes

  • It was a rather good → It was rather good
  • fairly terrible → rather terrible
💡 Tip: Use rather for surprising or unwanted qualities.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
← Adverbs of DegreeEven, Still, Yet, Already →

Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate grammar lessons →

Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.