Intermediate grammar · Unit 104 · B2

quite, pretty, rather and fairly

Adjectives and adverbs

Quite, pretty, rather and fairly all mean less than very but more than a little, with differences in strength, formality and attitude. Quite also has a second meaning, completely, with words such as sure, right and impossible.

Go to the exercises

A quite and pretty

Quite and pretty mean much the same: less than very, but more than a little. Pretty is informal and belongs mainly to speech.

Quite goes before a/an: quite an old car, not a quite old car. Pretty goes after it: a pretty old car.

Three uses belong to quite alone, not pretty:

pattern example
quite a/an + noun, with no adjective It was quite a shock.
quite a lot (of) There were quite a lot of people.
quite + verb, especially like and enjoy I quite like jazz.
  • You must know her. She's quite famous round here.
  • You must know her. She's pretty famous round here.
  • Gav lives quite near the ground, so he goes to matches pretty often.
  • They've bought quite an old house in Ilkley.
  • Rhys has quite a good job at the bank.
  • Rhys has a pretty good job at the bank.
  • I wasn't expecting them at all. It was quite a surprise.
  • There were quite a lot of people at the quiz.
  • I quite like golf, but I wouldn't watch it for six hours.

B rather

Rather is similar to quite and pretty. We often use it for negative ideas, things we consider not good. Quite is also possible here.

With positive ideas (good, nice, clever), rather suggests unusually or surprisingly. A British speaker who says the meal was rather good is, by local standards, very nearly ecstatic.

  • The forecast isn't great. It's rather windy.
  • Ben's rather quiet. He doesn't say much at meetings.
  • These sausages are rather good. Where did you buy them?

C fairly

Fairly is weaker than quite, rather and pretty. Something that is fairly good is acceptable, but it could be better.

  • My flat's fairly big, but I'd like a garden.
  • We still meet up fairly often, but not as often as we did at college.

D quite meaning completely

Quite also means completely, especially with these adjectives:

sure, certain, right, wrong, true, safe, clear, obvious, different, unnecessary, incredible, extraordinary, amazing, impossible

It has the same meaning with some verbs, as in I quite agree.

Not quite means not completely.

So quite has two meanings, and the adjective tells you which one is meant:

quite = less than very quite = completely
The film is quite good. The story is quite true.
  • "Are you sure?" "Yes, quite sure."
  • The new manager was quite different from the old one.
  • Everything she told the police was quite true.
  • I quite agree with you.
  • I don't quite understand what you're asking.
  • "Have you finished?" "Not quite."

Exercises

104.1 Complete the sentences using quite and one of these words: famous, hungry, late, noisy, often, old, surprised.

famoushungrylatenoisyoftenoldsurprised

  1. I can't believe you've never heard of him. He's quite famous.

    I can't believe you've never heard of him. He's quite famous.

  2. I'm . Is there anything in the fridge?

  3. We go swimming , about twice a week.

  4. Our flat is above a pub, so it's at weekends.

  5. I didn't expect a reply from the council. I was when they wrote back.

  6. I didn't get to bed until , so I'm a bit slow this morning.

  7. Nobody knows exactly when the bridge was built, but it's .

104.2 Put the words in brackets in the right order to complete the sentences.

  1. The forecast was awful, but the sun came out. It was quite a lovely day. (a / lovely / quite / day)

    The forecast was awful, but the sun came out. It was quite a lovely day.

  2. Jess sings in two choirs. She has . (voice / quite / strong / a)

  3. The car park was miles from the stadium. We had to walk . (quite / way / a / long)

  4. Take a scarf. There's . (a / wind / cold / pretty)

  5. The motorway was busy. There was . (lot / traffic / a / of / quite)

  6. I'm shattered. I've had . (pretty / day / a / long)

  7. Imran hasn't lived on our street for long. He . (fairly / moved / recently / in)

104.3 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use rather and an adjective.

  1. The weather isn't great today. It's rather ...

    Example answer: The weather isn't great today. It's rather windy.

  2. I liked the play, but it was rather ...

  3. Dan left the party without saying goodbye to anyone, which was rather ...

  4. Shona hates queuing. Sometimes she's rather ...

  5. This café does lovely cakes, but it's rather ...

104.4 What does quite mean in each sentence? Choose the right meaning.

  1. It's quite windy. You'll need a jacket.

    less than very (section A)

    It's quite windy. You'll need a jacket.

  2. "Are you certain?" "Yes, quite certain."

  3. Dev's cooking is quite good.

  4. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was quite amazing.

  5. Their garden is quite big.

  6. I'm quite hungry. Shall we stop for a sandwich?

  7. You're right. I quite agree.

104.5 Complete these sentences using quite and one of these words: different, impossible, right, safe, sure, true.

differentimpossiblerightsafesuretrue

  1. I doubted him at first, but everything he told us turned out to be quite true.

    I doubted him at first, but everything he told us turned out to be quite true.

  2. Don't worry about the dog. He's . He's never bitten anyone.

  3. I'm sorry, but I can't finish the whole report by Friday. It's .

  4. I completely agree with you. You're .

  5. You can't compare rugby and football. They're .

  6. I think I locked the back door, but I'm not .

See also