Lesson

Quite, pretty, rather and fairly

Degree modifiers

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Quite, pretty, rather and fairly

These four words are degree adverbs used to modify adjectives or adverbs. They tell us how much of a quality is present (intensity). Although they look similar, they differ in meaning, register (formal/informal), and collocation.

They usually come before an adjective or another adverb: a fairly good result, rather expensive.
Meaning: 'quite' can mean 'completely' with non-gradable adjectives (British) or 'fairly' with gradable ones; 'pretty' is informal and strong; 'rather' is more formal and can show surprise; 'fairly' means moderately.

Context and the adjective type (gradable vs non-gradable) change the exact meaning. Pay attention to tone (formal vs informal).

Table

Degree Adverbs: meaning and examples

Adverb	Typical meaning / register	Example
quite	Can mean 'completely' with non-gradable adjectives (BrE); 'fairly' with gradable adjectives. Neutral to formal.	The task is quite impossible without more data.
pretty	Informal; means 'fairly' but stronger and casual.	The report is pretty detailed, but needs minor edits.
rather	More formal; often expresses surprise or that something is more than expected.	The client was rather pleased with the quick turnaround.
fairly	Neutral, modest degree — means 'moderately'. Good for formal reports.	The results are fairly consistent across all departments.

Tip

Placement rule: where to put these adverbs

These degree adverbs normally go before adjectives or before other adverbs. With the verb 'be', they come after it.

Before adjectives: a rather difficult task, fairly expensive.
Before adverbs: quite clearly, pretty quickly.
After 'be': The manager is quite satisfied.

Think: adjective/adverb → adverb before; with BE → adverb after.

Example

Examples in context

The quarterly review was fairly positive, but we need to improve margins.

She was rather surprised by the client's last-minute request.

The prototype is quite successful for an early version.

He's pretty experienced in supply-chain negotiations.

Tip

Common mistakes

Learners often confuse nuance and register. Watch these traps:

Using 'pretty' in formal writing (avoid in reports and emails).
Assuming 'quite' always means 'very' — with non-gradable adjectives it can mean 'completely' in British English.
Placing the adverb in the wrong position (e.g., after an adjective: 'expensive fairly' is incorrect).
Using 'rather' to mean 'fairly' in all contexts — it often carries surprise or a negative tone.

Check the level of formality and whether the adjective is gradable before choosing the adverb.

Quiz

Choose the best option to complete the sentence: "The interim results were _____ encouraging, but further tests are needed."

Hint: Choose a neutral adverb suitable for a business report.

Quiz

Complete: The budget shortfall makes the project _____ to finish on time.

Hint: Is 'impossible' something that can vary in degree, or is it absolute?

Quiz

Which sentence is most appropriate for a formal report?

Hint: Pick the option that sounds neutral and suitable for formal written English.

Key Points

Vocabulary

quite

adverb CEFR B2 //kwaɪt//

to a significant extent; with non-gradable adjectives can mean 'completely' (BrE)

The software is quite stable for a beta version.

Vocabulary

pretty

adverb CEFR B1 //ˈprɪti//

informal: fairly or to a notable extent

She is pretty confident about the negotiation.

Vocabulary

rather

adverb CEFR B2 //ˈrɑːðər//

to a certain degree, often more formal; can show surprise or unexpectedness

We were rather impressed by the speed of delivery.

Vocabulary

fairly

adverb CEFR B2 //ˈfeəli//

to a moderate degree; neutral and suitable for formal contexts

The system is fairly reliable during peak hours.

GrammarPoint

gradable adjective

grammar_point CEFR B2 //ˈɡreɪdəbl ˌædʒɛktɪv//

an adjective that can vary in intensity and take modifiers (e.g., 'pretty big', 'very small')

Expensive is gradable: fairly expensive, very expensive.