Grammar · Adverbs & Word Order
Intensifiers: Very, Really, Quite & Rather
Four small words that make a sentence stronger or softer. Learn which one to use, and why quite can mean two things, with the film Mamma Mia!
Grammar › Adverbs & Word Order › Intensifiers: Very, Really, Quite & Rather
The rule in one sentenceVery and really make a word stronger, quite and rather usually make it a little softer — but before a very strong word like amazing, quite means “completely”.
About the film
Mamma Mia! is a musical film from 2008, full of ABBA songs. Sophie lives on a very pretty Greek island with her mother, Donna, who runs a rather old hotel. Sophie is about to get married, and she really wants to know who her father is.
What does it do?
These four words change how strong an adjective sounds. Very and really turn the volume up. Quite and rather usually turn it down a little, so the meaning is closer to “fairly”.
Rather often adds a small feeling of surprise, or a gentle complaint. Really has one extra skill: it can also go before a verb, like I really love this song. Very cannot do that.
Look at the tiles. Sophie is more than just excited, so we use really. The hotel is old, but not falling down, and it is a little surprising, so we use rather.
Look at the last row. With normal words like good or old, quite means “fairly”. With strong words like amazing or perfect, it means “completely”. The adjective tells you which meaning it has.
The party is quite good. The singing is quite amazing.
Same word, two meanings. “Quite good” is fairly good. “Quite amazing” is completely amazing.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
very / really — stronger
Donna is very busy before the wedding.
The hotel isn’t very modern.
“Not very” is a soft, polite way to say something negative.Are you really sure?
“Really” can also go before a verb: I really want to go.quite / rather — a bit softer
The hotel is rather old.
“Rather” can sound a little surprised or critical.The dress isn’t quite ready.
“Not quite” means almost, but not completely.Isn’t it rather late for a party?
A polite way to complain a little.When to use each one
very / really — turn it up
quite / rather — a softer feel
Words that help: what does quite mean here?
Look at the adjective after quite. It tells you the meaning.
quite + a normal word → fairly
quite + a strong word → completely
Common mistakes
❌ Sophie very wants to meet her father.
✅ Sophie really wants to meet her father.
“Very” cannot go before a verb. Use “really”.
❌ The island is very amazing.
✅ The island is absolutely amazing.
“Very” sounds wrong with strong words like amazing. Use absolutely, really or quite.
❌ Donna has a quite old hotel.
✅ Donna has quite an old hotel.
“Quite” goes before “a” or “an”. (“Rather” can go before or after: rather an old hotel / a rather old hotel.)
❌ The party was very better than last year.
✅ The party was rather better than last year.
“Very” cannot go before “better”. Use “rather” or “much”.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“Would rather” and “pretty”. Rather has a second, completely different job: I’d rather means “I would prefer”. It has nothing to do with strength. Also, American speakers often use pretty where British speakers say quite or rather.
✅ I’d rather watch Mamma Mia! than a horror film. (I prefer)
✅ The songs are pretty catchy. (American for “quite catchy”)
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. Sophie ___ wants to meet her father.
Before a verb, use “really”, not “very”.
2. The view from the hotel is ___ amazing.
With a strong word like amazing, “quite” means completely. “Very amazing” sounds wrong.
3. Donna has ___ old hotel.
“Quite” goes before “a” or “an”.
4. The songs are great, but the story is ___ silly.
“Rather” + adjective, with a small complaint.
5. I ___ like the film, but I prefer the stage show.
“I quite like it” means I like it a bit. “Very” cannot go before a verb.
6. The dress is nice, but it isn’t ___ ready yet.
“Not quite” means almost, but not completely.
7. This year’s party is ___ better than last year’s.
“Very” cannot go before “better”.
8. I’d ___ stay at home than go out tonight.
“Would rather” means “would prefer”.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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