Unit 2.2
Quite vs Rather
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Introduction
Determiners are modifiers of nouns. They can provide a wide range of information.
We use the determiners quite and rather to modify the degree of adjectives and adverbs.
Form
Determiner words are put before a noun to show what the noun refers to.
Two determiners are quite and rather.
Quite
The position in the sentence is:
Subject + quite + adverb/adjective/article/determiners/noun + complement
Quite appears:
- in affirmative sentences to express the meaning of a little;
- in negative sentences to expresses the meaning of not completely.
NOTE: We can use quite with the, a, some and nouns.
Rather
The position in the sentence is:
Subject + rather + adverb/adjective + complement
Rather appears in affirmative sentences to express the idea of more than was expected.
Example
- Practicing as a lawyer is quite good but it is also stressful.
- I am quite happy about the job I got but it is not the job I want.
- It is not quite a good idea to ask for a raise nowadays.
- She rather likes to being self-employed.
- The professionalism in this office is rather good. I am surprised.
- The company is thinking that the contract they offered me is rather useless.
Use
We use quite and rather to modify the degree of adjectives and adverbs:
- quite gives more emphasis than a little but less than very;
- rather gives more emphasis than quite. It means “more than was expected“.
Summary
We use the determiners quite and rather to modify the degree of adjectives and adverbs.
We use quite:
- in affirmative sentences to express the meaning of a little;
- in negative sentences to expresses the meaning of not completely.
The structure is: we start with the subject followed by quite and an adverb, adjective, article, determiner or a noun followed by a complement.
NOTE: We can use quite with the, a, some and nouns.
We use rather:
- in affirmative sentences to express the idea of more than was expected.
The structure is: we start with the subject followed by rather and an adverb or adjective followed by a complement.
For example:
— “I am quite happy about the job I got but it is not the job I want.” = We use quite in affirmative sentence with the meaning of a little.
— “The professionalism in this office is rather good. I am surprised.” = We use rather to express the idea of more than was expected.
♦ “The professionalism in this office is so good.” = If we use so, the idea of the surprisingly and unexpectedly is not expressed, but the meaning is that of very.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.
Exercises
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