What’s the dinstinction between these intensifiers, such as very, quite, rather, pretty, extremely, etc? The current election is at close (July 3rd, 2016)?
Word choice and usage: I’m always curious about use of intensifiers such as very, quite, rather, pretty, extremely, etc., I also remember my teacher told there was a turn of tone when using these words and some of them had a passive emotion several years ago. In these days, I see a website http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/Quite_rather and Pray_The_differences_between_BR_44738.asp. Aspx ). Have I become disordered? How do I distinguish between two intensifiers? Has anyone got emotions?
I don’t agree with the ranking of quite and very in the accepted answer. The basic meaning of quite is “totally or completely”. to an extreme : positively quite
sure—often used as an intensifier with a,
quite a swell guy quite a beauty 3 : to a considerable extent : rather quite near.
The Oxford On-Line Dictionary has a similar definition:
1 To the utmost extent or degree; absolutely.
Is it true that all computers are different? 1 US Very; really (used as an intensifier)
2 Or, to a certain or fairly significant extent or degree; fairly.
Because we are just dealing with nuance rather than meaning, I would add that very is so overused that often it doesn’t intensify to a (very) great degree.
Will the differences in the words’ more than just the denotations of the same give over to the words’ similarities?
Where will this adjective be used? Let’s put it in order of use. All are neutral terms with the context conveying any positive or negative tone, as I hear them in the US. Mildest to
strongest: rather, pretty, quite, very, extremely Rather is
used as a mild, vague, and casual term: “It’s rather good” means it is vaguely more than good, to some undefined degree. My experience was that after very long I had just “become extremely good”, I won’t be able to talk about that at every turn. Say I want to compliment you but not be too personal: Your jacket is rather nice says that I am not overdoing my attentions.
On this page, the word “Pretty” is used as a vague, but stronger, casual word: “It’s pretty good” means it is vaguely more than good. In a strong but undefined degree “Pretty” is used. I like both of your and Jess’s jackets. Say I like their jackets.
Quite is used as a strong but vague term in any setting. “It’s quite good” means it is definitely more than good, to an undefined degree. Said I want me compliment you with a firm remark: Your jacket is quite nice, says that I think your jacket is the right choice and better than just nice.
Is’very’ used as a distinct term in any context: “It’s very good” means it is ‘B+,’ more than good to a powerful and hard-to-beat degree. Say I want to compliment you with a decisive remark: Your jacket is very nice says that I can hardly find a better choice for you than that one. I’m really impressed. Please join this conversation!
The word “extremely” is used as an intense term if anything is described. “It’s extremely good” means it is as good as it can get with nothing better. “It’s extremely good” means it’s as good as it can get. Say I want to compliment you with the most decisive remark: Your jacket is extremely nice says that I cannot find a better choice for you than that one.
Will the differences in the words’ more than just the denotations of the same give over to the words’ similarities?
Where will this adjective be used? Let’s put it in order of use. All are neutral terms with the context conveying any positive or negative tone, as I hear them in the US. Mildest to
strongest: rather, pretty, quite, very, extremely Rather is
used as a mild, vague, and casual term: “It’s rather good” means it is vaguely more than good, to some undefined degree. My experience was that after very long I had just “become extremely good”, I won’t be able to talk about that at every turn. Say I want to compliment you but not be too personal: Your jacket is rather nice says that I am not overdoing my attentions.
On this page, the word “Pretty” is used as a vague, but stronger, casual word: “It’s pretty good” means it is vaguely more than good. In a strong but undefined degree “Pretty” is used. I like both of your and Jess’s jackets. Say I like their jackets.
Quite is used as a strong but vague term in any setting. “It’s quite good” means it is definitely more than good, to an undefined degree. Said I want me compliment you with a firm remark: Your jacket is quite nice, says that I think your jacket is the right choice and better than just nice.
Is’very’ used as a distinct term in any context: “It’s very good” means it is ‘B+,’ more than good to a powerful and hard-to-beat degree. Say I want to compliment you with a decisive remark: Your jacket is very nice says that I can hardly find a better choice for you than that one. I’m really impressed. Please join this conversation!
The word “extremely” is used as an intense term if anything is described. “It’s extremely good” means it is as good as it can get with nothing better. “It’s extremely good” means it’s as good as it can get. Say I want to compliment you with the most decisive remark: Your jacket is extremely nice says that I cannot find a better choice for you than that one.
Will the differences in the words’ more than just the denotations of the same give over to the words’ similarities?
Where will this adjective be used? Let’s put it in order of use. All are neutral terms with the context conveying any positive or negative tone, as I hear them in the US. Mildest to
strongest: rather, pretty, quite, very, extremely Rather is
used as a mild, vague, and casual term: “It’s rather good” means it is vaguely more than good, to some undefined degree. My experience was that after very long I had just “become extremely good”, I won’t be able to talk about that at every turn. Say I want to compliment you but not be too personal: Your jacket is rather nice says that I am not overdoing my attentions.
On this page, the word “Pretty” is used as a vague, but stronger, casual word: “It’s pretty good” means it is vaguely more than good. In a strong but undefined degree “Pretty” is used. I like both of your and Jess’s jackets. Say I like their jackets.
Quite is used as a strong but vague term in any setting. “It’s quite good” means it is definitely more than good, to an undefined degree. Said I want me compliment you with a firm remark: Your jacket is quite nice, says that I think your jacket is the right choice and better than just nice.
Is’very’ used as a distinct term in any context: “It’s very good” means it is ‘B+,’ more than good to a powerful and hard-to-beat degree. Say I want to compliment you with a decisive remark: Your jacket is very nice says that I can hardly find a better choice for you than that one. I’m really impressed. Please join this conversation!
The word “extremely” is used as an intense term if anything is described. “It’s extremely good” means it is as good as it can get with nothing better. “It’s extremely good” means it’s as good as it can get. Say I want to compliment you with the most decisive remark: Your jacket is extremely nice says that I cannot find a better choice for you than that one.
