ADVERBS OF DEGREE

Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity or degree of an action, an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs of degree are usually placed before the adjective, adverb, or verb they are modifying, although there are some exceptions discussed below.

Adverb of degree	Modifying	Example
extremely	adjective	The water was extremely cold.
quite	adjective	The movie is quite interesting.
just	verb	He was just leaving.
almost	verb	She has almost finished.
very	adverb	She is running very fast.
too	adverb	You are walking too slowly.
enough	adverb	You are running fast enough.

USAGE OF "ENOUGH"

Enough can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.

ENOUGH AS AN ADVERB

Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' goes after the adjective or adverb that it is modifying, and not before it as other adverbs do. It can be used both in positive and negative sentences.

EXAMPLES

• Is your coffee hot enough?
• This box isn't big enough.
• He didn't work hard enough.
• I got here early enough.

Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

EXAMPLES

• He didn't work hard enough to pass the exam.
• Is your coffee hot enough to drink?
• She's not old enough to get married.
• I got here early enough to sign up.

Enough can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

EXAMPLES

• The dress was big enough for me.
• She's not experienced enough for this job.
• Is the coffee hot enough for you?
• He didn't work hard enough for a promotion.

ENOUGH AS A DETERMINER

Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes before the noun it modifies. It is used with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns.

EXAMPLES

• We have enough bread.
• You have enough children.
• They don't have enough food.
• I don't have enough apples.

USAGE OF "TOO"

"Too" is always an adverb, but it has two distinct meanings, each with its own usage patterns.

TOO MEANING "ALSO"

Too as an adverb meaning "also" goes at the end of the phrase it modifies.

EXAMPLES

• I would like to go swimming too, if you will let me come.
• Can I go to the zoo too?
• Is this gift for me too?
• I'm not going to clean your room too!

TOO MEANING "EXCESSIVELY"

Too as an adverb meaning "excessively" goes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It can be used in both affirmative and negative sentences.

EXAMPLES

• This coffee is too hot.
• He works too hard.
• Isn't she too young?
• I am not too short!

Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

EXAMPLES

• The coffee was too hot to drink.
• You're too young to have grandchildren!
• I am not too tired to go out tonight.
• Don't you work too hard to have any free time?

Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

EXAMPLES

• The coffee was too hot for me.
• The dress was too small for her.
• He's not too old for this job.
• Sally's not too slow for our team.

USAGE OF "VERY"

Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.

EXAMPLES

• The girl was very beautiful.
• The house is very expensive.
• He worked very quickly.
• She runs very fast.

If we want to make a negative form of an adjective or adverb, we can add "not" to the verb, we can use an adjective or adverb of opposite meaning, or we can use "not very" with the original adjective or adverb. The meanings of the phrases are not identical. Usually the phrase using "not very" is less direct, and thus more polite, than the other phrases.

EXAMPLES

Original phrase	Opposite meaning with "not"	Opposite meaning with "not very"	Opposite meaning with an opposite word
The girl was beautiful.	The girl was not beautiful.	The girl was not very beautiful.	The girl was ugly.
He worked quickly.	He did not work quickly.	He did not work very quickly.	He worked slowly.

DIFFERENCE IN MEANING BETWEEN "VERY" AND "TOO"

There is a big difference in meaning between "too" and "very". "Very" expresses a fact while "too" suggests there is a problem.

EXAMPLES

• He speaks very quickly.
• He speaks too quickly for me to understand.
• It is very hot outside.
• It is too hot outside to go for a walk.

OTHER ADVERBS USED LIKE "VERY"

Some common adverbs are used in the same way as "very" to heighten the degree of adjectives and adverbs.

Expressing very strong feelings	Expressing strong feelings	Expressing somewhat doubtful feelings
extremely, terribly, amazingly, wonderfully, insanely	especially, particularly, uncommonly, unusually, remarkably, quite	pretty, rather, fairly, not especially, not particularly
The movie was amazingly interesting.	The movie was particularly interesting.	The movie was fairly interesting.
She sang wonderfully well.	She sang unusually well.	She sang pretty well.
The lecture was terribly boring.	The lecture was quite boring.	The lecture was rather boring.

ADVERBS OF MANNER

Adverbs of manner are usually formed from adjectives by adding –ly:

bad > badly; quiet > quietly; recent > recently; sudden > suddenly

but there are sometimes changes in spelling:

easy > easily; gentle > gently

If an adjective ends in –ly we use the phrase in a …. way to express manner:

Silly > He behaved in a silly way.
Friendly > She spoke in a friendly way.

A few adverbs of manner have the same form as the adjective:

They all worked hard.
She usually arrives late.
I hate driving fast.

Note: hardly and lately have different meanings:
He could hardly walk = It was difficult for him to walk.
I haven’t seen John lately = I haven’t seen John recently.

We often use phrases with like as adverbials of manner:

She slept like a baby.
He ran like a rabbit.

 Adverbs of manner and link verbs

We very often use adverbials with like after link verbs:

Her hands felt like ice.
It smells like fresh bread.

But we do not use other adverbials of manner after link verbs. We use adjectives instead:

They looked happily happy.
That bread smells deliciously delicious.

Try these exercises to practice your use of adverbials of manner.

Try these tasks to practice your use of placement of adverbials.

SOME PRACTICE

MORE PRACTICE

Example Business Telephone Conversation

Ms Anderson (sales representative Jewels and Things): ring ring ... ring ring ... ring ring ...

Secretary (Henry Smith): Hello, Diamonds Galore, this is Henry speaking. How may I be of help to you today?

Ms Anderson: Yes, this is Ms Janice Roberts calling. May I speak to Mr. Franks, please?
Henry Smith: I'm afraid Mr. Franks is out of the office at the moment. Would you like me to take a message?

Ms Anderson: Uhm... actually, this call is rather urgent. We spoke yesterday about a delivery problem that Mr. Franks mentioned. Did he leave any information with you?
Henry Smith: As a matter of fact, he did. He said that a representative from your company might be calling. He also asked me to ask you a few questions..

Ms Anderson: Great, I'd love to see this problem resolved as quickly as possible.
Henry Smith: Well, we still haven't received the shipment of earrings that was supposed to arrive last Tuesday.

Ms Anderson: Yes, I'm terribly sorry about that. In the meantime, I've spoken with our delivery department and they assured me that the earrings will be delivered by tomorrow morning.
Henry Smith: Excellent, I'm sure Mr. Franks will be pleased to hear that.

Ms Anderson: Yes, the shipment was delayed from France. We weren't able to send along your shipment until this morning.
Henry Smith: I see. Mr. Franks also wanted to schedule a meeting with you later this week.

Ms Anderson: Certainly, what is he doing on Thursday afternoon?
Henry Smith: I'm afraid he's meeting with some clients out of town. How about Thursday morning?

Ms Anderson: Unfortunately, I'm seeing someone else on Thursday morning. Is he doing anything on Friday morning?
Henry Smith: No, it looks like he's free then.

Ms Anderson: Great, should I come by at 9?
Henry Smith: Well, he usually holds a staff meeting at nine. It only lasts a half an hour or so. How about 10?

Ms Anderson: Yes, 10 would be great.
Henry Smith: OK, I'll schedule that. Ms Anderson at 10, Friday Morning... Is there anything else I can help you with?

Ms Anderson: No, I think that's everything. Thank you for your help... Goodbye.
Henry Smith: Goodbye.

Keywords and Important Phrases

How may I be of help - This is a formal phrase used to show politeness. It means 'Can I help you?'
calling - telephoning
out of the office - not in the office
take a message - to write down a message from the caller
urgent - very important
delivery - the bringing of goods to a client
mentioned - said
resolved - taken care of
as quickly as possible - in the fastest manner, ASAP
shipment - delivery, the bringing of goods to a client
assured - certainty that something is true or will happen
pleased - happy
delayed -not be able to do something on time
looks like - seems
staff meeting - a meeting of employees
lasts - to take time
schedule - future appointments

Short Summary of the Telephone Conversation

Ms Anderson telephones Diamonds Galore to speak with Mr. Franks. Mr. Franks is not in the office, but Henry Smith, the secretary, speaks to Ms Anderson about a delivery problem with some earrings. The earrings have not yet arrived at Diamonds Galore. Ms Anderson tells Peter that there was a problem with the shipment from France, but that the earrings should arrive tomorrow morning.

They next schedule a meeting between Ms Anderson and Mr. Franks. Mr. Franks is not able to meet with Ms Anderson on Thursday because he is busy. They finally decide on Friday morning at 10 o'clock after a staff meeting that Mr Owen usually holds on Friday mornings.

IMPORTANT PHRASES

Introducing yourself

This is Ken.
Ken speaking

Asking who is on the telephone

Excuse me, who is this?
Can I ask who is calling, please?

Asking for Someone

Can I have extension 321?
Could I speak to...? (Can I - more informal / May I - more formal)
Is Jack in? (informal idiom meaning: Is Jack in the office?

Connecting Someone

I'll put you through (put through - phrasal verb meaning 'connect')
Can you hold the line? Can you hold on a moment?

How to reply when someone is not available
I'm afraid ... is not available at the moment
The line is busy... (when the extension requested is being used)
Mr Jackson isn't in... Mr Jackson is out at the moment...

Taking a Message

Could (Can, May) I take a message?
Could (Can, May) I tell him who is calling?
Would you like to leave a message?

Business Phone Call - Interactive Practice

Haga clic en Escuchar todo y siga adelante. Después que se sienta cómodo con toda la conversación, conviértase en la Persona A haciendo clic en el botón Persona A. Usted escuchará únicamente a la Persona B a través del audio. Habrá una pausa para que usted repita los enunciados de la Persona A. Haga lo mismo para la Persona B. La velocidad de conversación es de hablante nativo. Use el botón de pausa si la pausa entre cada enunciado es demasiado rápida para usted. Después de practicar varias veces, usted podrá hablar igual de rápido que un hablante nativo.

1

Listen All  |  Person A  |  Person B

A: "Hello? This is Steve." B: "Hi Steve, this is Mary from ABC Company. I'm returning your call." A: "Hi Mary. How are you doing?" B: "I'm doing great thanks." A: "Thanks for returning my call. I couldn't figure out why the ending balance on fiscal year 2003 didn't match the beginning balance on of 2004." B: "When I checked, it was matching. How much is the difference?" A: "The amount is exactly $42,000." B: "Oh. I know what the problem is. We opened another bank account at the end of fiscal year 2003. I might not have included the new bank statements when I sent over the information." A: "That makes sense. I'm just glad it wasn't out of my miscalculation. Can you send over the statements? I should be done by end of day since everything looks good." B: "Sure. I'll fax them to you immediately. Is 555-123-4567 the number I should fax it to?" A: "Yes. That is the correct number." B: "I'll do it right now." A: "Thank you for your help." B: "I should have sent them over to you the first time. I apologize for that." A: "No problem." B: "Thank you." A: "Thank you. Bye."

2

Listen All  |  Person A  |  Person B

A: "Hello, ABC Company." B: "Hi, this is Janet from Consult R Us. May I speak with Alex please?" A: "He's in a meeting right now. Would you like to leave a message?" B: "Yes. Can you have Alex call me back when he is available? My name again is Janet, and he can reach me at 555-987-6543." A: "It's Janet at 555-987-6543. Can I tell him what this is regarding?" B: "He sent over a fax, and the last page didn't print out. I will need for him to resend the fax to me." A: "I'll let him know." B: "Thank you." A: "Thank you for calling ABC." B: "Good bye." A: "Bye."

3

Listen All  |  Person A  |  Person B

A: "Microsoft, this is Steve." B: "Hi Steve, this is Richard from Third Hand Testing. I'm calling in regards to the MSN assignment. Do you have a minute to answer a couple of questions?" A: "Sure. What can I help you with?" B: "We originally agreed on 5 testing procedures, but our program manager received a mail indicating 4 testing procedures. Is 4 the correct number?" A: "Yes it is. We found that we can do the last one here." B: "Great. Does the timeline change because we reduced one of the testing procedures?" A: "We don't have to change the timeline. Our original timeframe was very aggressive." B: "That makes our job a little easier." A: "Do you have any other questions?" B: "No. That's all I had. Thanks for your time." A: "No problem." B: "Ok. Good bye." A: "Bye." http://es.talkenglish.com/lessonpractice.aspx?ALID=483

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