Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 104 · B2

quite, pretty, rather and fairly

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.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 25 minutes

In this lesson

quite and prettyA2 screens of questions
ratherB1 screen of questions
fairlyC2 screens of questions
quite meaning completelyD4 screens of questions

Point A of 4

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.

Point A · Exercise 104.1 · part 1 of 2

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

Use these

famoushungrylatenoisyoftenoldsurprised

  1. Example

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

    AnswerI 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.

Point A · Exercise 104.1 · part 2 of 2

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

Use these

famoushungrylatenoisyoftenoldsurprised

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

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

Point B of 4

rather

Rather overlaps with quite and pretty, but it leans towards negative ideas, things we think are not good. Quite works here too.

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?

Point B · Exercise 104.3

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

  1. Example

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

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

    Example answerThe 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 ...

Point C of 4

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 go out together fairly regularly, though less than we used to.

Point C · Exercise 104.2 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

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

    AnswerThe 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)

Point C · Exercise 104.2 · part 2 of 2

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

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

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

Point D of 4

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."

Point D · Exercise 104.4 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

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

    less than very (section A)

    AnswerIt'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.

Point D · Exercise 104.4 · part 2 of 2

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

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

  2. You're right. I quite agree.

Point D · Exercise 104.5 · part 1 of 2

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

Use these

differentimpossiblerightsafesuretrue

  1. Example

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

    AnswerI 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 .

Point D · Exercise 104.5 · part 2 of 2

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

Use these

differentimpossiblerightsafesuretrue

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

Lesson 104 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Comparative 1 (cheaper, more expensive etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. quite and pretty–Not checkedB. rather–Not checkedC. fairly–Not checkedD. quite meaning completely–Not checked