Quite and rather

A Quite meaning 'fairly'

Quite usually means 'fairly' or 'a medium amount' (see Unit 115A).

I jeel quite hungry now. Repairing the machine is quite difficult.

The talk was quite interesting. We were quite surprised at the result. (But see D for another meaning of quite.)

B Stress with quite

In speech, whether we stress quite or the adjective makes a difference to the meaning.

If we stress quite, it means 'fairly but not very'. If we stress the adjective, the meaning is positive

The meaning is negative. (but not as positive as very).

The exhibition was quite good, but I've seen The exhibition was quite good. I enjoyed looking

better ones. round it.

I get up quite early, but not as early as you do. I got up quite early. I had a lot of jobs to do.

C Quite or rather?

When we make a favourable comment, we usually say quite, not rather. The book was quite interesting. It's quite warm now. It was quite nice walking through the park.

In unfavourable comments, we usually say rather, but quite is possible. The book was rather boring/quite boring. It was rather awkward/quite awkward taking my suitcase on the underground.

Rather in a favourable comment means 'to a surprising or unusual degree'. It's rather warm for October. (It isn't usually so warm.) / didn't know David can cook. He's rather good at it. I expect Tom's jokes were awful. ~ Actually they were rather funny.

We can use rather with a comparative but not quite. The meal took rather longer than we expected.

For quite and rather with a/an, see Unit 89B. It was quite an interesting book.

D Quite meaning 'completely'

With some adjectives, quite means 'completely' or 'totally'. What you said is quite wrong. {= completely wrong) The idea is quite absurd. (= totally absurd) The situation is quite hopeless.

Quite means 'completely' with these adjectives: absurd, alone, amazing, awful, brilliant, certain, dead, different, dreadful, extraordinary, false, hopeless, horrible, impossible, perfect, ridiculous, right, sure, true, useless, wrong

Compare the uses of quite.

I'm quite tired. (= fairly) I'm quite exhausted. (= completely)

The advice was quite useful. I got one or two The advice was quite useless. It was absolutely

tips. no good at all.

116 Exercises

1 Stress with quite (B)

Which word do we stress, quite or the adjective? Underline the stressed word.

? These pens are quite good but not as good as the ones I usually buy.

? This book is quite exciting. I can't put it down.

1 These fashions are quite new but not the very latest thing.

2 It's quite late. We'd better be going.

3 The sums are quite easy. I can do them in my head.

4 The music was quite good, but I wasn't really impressed.

5 The sun is quite bright. You'll need your sunglasses.

2 Quite or rather? (C)

Put in these adjectives: better, busy, nice, noisy, popular

Use quite or rather with each adjective. Sometimes either is possible.

Mark: I didn't like that meal very much.

Sarah: The soup was (►) quite nice though, wasn't it?

Mark: The food was (1)................................... the last time we came.

Sarah: It's (2)…………………….. in here, isn't it? Everyone seems to be shouting.

Mark: I wasn't expecting the place to be so full. It's (3)………………………. for a Monday evening

Sarah: This restaurant is (4) .................................... , you know.

3 Quite or rather? (C)

Add a sentence expressing the idea in brackets.

Use quite or rather in your sentence. Sometimes either is possible.

► (It's pleasant by the river.)

Let's walk along by the river. It's quite pleasant there.

► (You think Nick is aggressive.)

I don't like Nick much. I think he's rather aggressive.

1 (Changing trains twice is complicated.)

We have to change trains twice..................................................................................

2 (Your car is big.)

I can give you all a lift....................................................................................................

3 (The show went on longer than you expected.)

It was a good show, but...............................................................................................

4 (You made your decision quickly.)

It wasn't a difficult decision........................................................................................

4 The meanings of quite (A, D)

Does quite mean 'fairly' or 'completely'?

? Try one of these sweets. I think they're quite nice. = fairly nice

? The driver walked away unhurt. It was quite amazing. = completely amazing

1 I couldn't agree to the idea. It was quite ridiculous. =

2 I need some help with this crossword. It's quite difficult. =

3 That isn't the same thing at all. It's quite different. =

4 I wasn't expecting to get a postcard. I was quite surprised. =

5 I bought this guidebook. It looks quite useful. =

6 Are you sure you want the job? ~ Yes, I'm quite certain. =

Too short and not long enough both mean the same thing.

B Word order with too and enough

Too goes before an adjective or adverb.

Claire doesn't want to marry Henry. She thinks he's too old.

Zedco are in trouble. The company reacted too slowly to the rise in prices. Enough goes after an adjective or adverb.

The water isn't hot enough. It needs to be boiling, not enough hot

You didn't put the screws in tightly enough, not enough tightly

Too many, too much and enough go before a noun.

No wonder you're tired. You've been going to too many parties.

Andrew spends too much time working.

There'll be fifteen people for coffee. Have we got enough cups?

Everything is so expensive. Did you bring enough money? We use many with a plural noun and much with an uncountable noun (see Unit 95A).

Compare these examples with enough.

After an adjective: The coffee isn't strong enough.

Before a noun: You didn't put enough coffee in.

We leave out the noun if the meaning is clear without it.

Just add a little water. Not too much. We'll need fifteen cups. Have we got enough?

C Other structures with too and enough

We can use a phrase with for after too or enough.

These puzzles are too difficult for children. This coat isn't warm enough for winter. Have we got enough cups for everyone?

We can also use a to-infinitive.

It's too dangerous to walk home at this time of night.

There are too many museums here to visit in a single day.

Are you fit enough to run a marathon?

I couldn't get close enough to see properly.

Vicky didn't bring enough money to buy two CDs.

? The sweater is too big. 1 ................................

? The ruler isn't long enough. 2 .................................

3 ………………….

Too and enough (A-B)

Look at what people are saying and complete the sentences. Use too, too many, too much or enough with these words: clearly, complicated, difficult, expensive, food, hastily, mistakes, rain, sweet, traffic

? You should have stopped to think first. You acted too hastily.

? This quiz is rather easy. The questions aren't difficult enough.

1 Can I have some more sugar in my coffee, please? It isn't

2 I can't afford a new stereo. It would be .

3 There's a water shortage. There just hasn't been

4 I can't read your writing. You don't write

5 Try to be more careful, please. You're making

6 The roads are very crowded. There's simply

7 I can't understand these instructions. They're

8 Thousands of people are starving because they can't get

Other structures with too and enough (C)

Comment on the situations. Use too or enough and a phrase with jor or a to-infinitive.

? A taxi would have been best. But you didn't have the money.
I didn't have enough money for a taxi.

? Sarah can't take a day off. She's very busy.
Sarah is too busy to take a day off.

1 A picnic would be nice. But it's wet.

2 All your guests will need chairs. But you haven't got very many.

3 You couldn't carry the equipment. You had such a lot.

4 Natasha wants to be a professional musician. You think she's very good.

TEST 20 Adverbs and word order (Units 113-117)

Test 20A

Put each word in brackets into the sentence.

► Anna arrives for work, (late)
Anna arrives late for work.

1 I like old cowboy films, (quite)

2 Have you finished this magazine? (yet)

3 This coat is big. (too)

4 Have the children had their tea? (already)

5 You don't look ill. (certainly)

6 We don't go out. (much)

7 I think everyone works hard, (fairly)

8 I don't know the date of the meeting, (still)

9 The others are getting ready, (just)

10 I have to go to work, (on Saturdays)

Test 20B

Put the words in the right order to form a statement.

► I / love / really / these trousers
I really love these trousers.

1 is / rather / silly / this game

2 already / I've / paid / the bill

3 enough / isn't / loud / the alarm

4 easily / Jonathan / passed / the test

5 a lot / cards / play / the children

6 didn't / enough / sell / they / tickets

7 ask / many / questions / too / you

8 a member / any more / of the club / I'm / not

9 enough / it's / outside / to sit / warm

Test 20C

Read the conversation. Then look at the answers below and write the correct answer in each space.

Martin: Hello, Nancy. (►) How are you? Have you found a job (1)……………….. ....?

Nancy: No, I'm afraid not, but I'm (2)........ ………….. ... looking. It's taking (3)…………………… longer

than I expected. The problem is there just aren't (4) ........................... jobs.

And there are too (5) ............................. people looking for jobs.

Martin: I'm old enough (6)…………………….. remember when there was plenty of work.
Nancy: There used to be lots of work, but there isn't (7)................................ more.

I'm afraid I'm (8)…………………. longer as optimistic as I was a few weeks ago.

In fact I feel a (9).............................. depressed about it sometimes.

Martin: Don't worry. You'll (10).............................. find something, I expect.

► a) How b) What c) Who d) Why 6 a) for b) of c) that d) to

1 a) longer b) soon c) still d) yet 7 a) any b) no c) now d) some

2 a) already b) more c) still d) yet 8 a) any b) never c) no d) not

3 a) more b) quite c) rather d) some 9 a) bit b) piece c) quite d) slightly

4 a) enough b) plenty c) right d) several 10 a) already b) yet c) soon

5 a) big b) lot c) many d) much d) before very long

Test 20 D

Each of these sentences has a mistake in it. Write the correct sentence.

► My friend calls always for me. My friend always calls jor me.

1 I didn't last night sleep very well.

2 1 think I need to rest little.

3 I-don't work for the company-longer.

4 The article is fair interesting.

5 Tessa locked carefully the door.

6 You aren't enough tall to play basketball.

7 We went yesterday to town.

8 Hike this music much.

Test 20E

Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the word in brackets.

► It's probable that the strike will be over soon, (probably)
The strike will probably be over soon.

1 We often go to the cinema, (a lot)

2 Adrian wears jeans all the time, (always)

3 These shoes are too small, (big)

4 I don't live in Birmingham any more, (no)

5 Polly spent more money than she should have done in the sales, (too)

Prepositions of place

A Meanings

The bird is in/inside the cage.

Sarah is diving in/into the water.

Tom is getting out of They're waiting outside

the car. the bank.

The jug is on the table.

The case is on top of the Emma is putting her
wardrobe. luggage on/onto the

trolley.

Henry is falling off the horse.

Rachel is at the bus stop.

The table is by/beside Jessica is sitting next to

the bed. Andrew.

The airport is near Manchester.

The coach is going to London.

The letter is from Chicago.

Matthew is walking towards the sun.

Vicky is running away from the fire.

There's a bridge over the river.

Tom is under the car.

The plane is above the clouds.

The temperature is below zero.

The cyclist is in front of The cyclist is behind Rita is going up the Daniel is coming down

the bus. the tractor. stairs. the stairs.

The house is among Jackson is between Jessica is sitting opposite They're running

the trees. Memphis and New Andrew. around/round the track.

Orleans.

B Position and movement

Most of these prepositions can express either position (where something is) or movement (where it is going). Position: The coin was under the sofa. Movement: The coin rolled under the sofa.

Now look at these examples with in and on expressing position.

The manager was in the office. The papers were on the floor. To express movement, we use into and onto, but we can also use in and on, especially in informal English.

The manager came in/into the office. The papers fell on/onto the floor.

At expresses position, and to expresses movement. Position: Vicky was at the doctor's. Movement: Vicky went to the doctor's.

> page 380 British and American English

► Sarah is getting out of the 1 David is going................................ 2 The furniture is……..

taxi. the ladder. the van.

3 My friend lives in a flat 4 The boss is coming 5 There's a garage…….
............. a shop. ........................ the corridor. the house.

6 We walked ………. 7 There's a statue 8 Tom and Nick are walking
the lake. ..................... the museum. ..................... the stadium.

2 Prepositions of place (A)

Complete the conversations. Choose the correct preposition.

1 Vicky: I felt really afraid when I was walking home from/off the club. All the time I could hear

someone behind/in front of me, but I didn't dare turn round.

Rachel: I expect you were imagining it.

Vicky: No, I wasn't. I saw him after I'd come in across/through the gate. He was wearing a long

black coat that came down well below/under his knees.

2 Daniel: You know Adam, don't you? He's very strange. He walked right along/past me yesterday as I

was coming among/down the stairs, but he didn't say hello.

Matthew: The other day he was sitting beside/opposite me at lunch, so I couldn't help looking at him, I said hello, but he didn't speak.

► The bank is next to the gift shop.

1 The sports shop is ........................... the bank.

2 The travel agency is.............................................. the sports shop and the art gallery.

3 The restaurant is............................... the art gallery.

4 The gift shop is................................ the bank and the restaurant.

5 The art gallery is................................ the travel agency.

4 Prepositions of place (A-B)

Where did the fly go? Put in these prepositions: around, into, on, out of, through, under, up

► The fly came in through the door.

1 It flew ................. the chair. 4 It went………….. the telephone.

2 It crawled ................. the chair leg. 5 It flew………… ...the drawer.

3 It stopped……………the desk for a moment. 6 It went………… .. the window.

; Prepositions of place (A-B).

Put in the correct preposition.

► Rachel was lying on the grass reading a book.

1 It's my holiday next week. I'm going .......................... Spain.

2 There was a big crowd .............................. the shop waiting for it to open.

3 That man is an idiot. He pushed me .......................... the swimming-pool.

4 I went ............................ the chemist's just now, but I didn't notice if it was open.

5 David hurt himself. He fell ............................. his bike.

6 There's a cafe.…………… .......... top of the mountain. You can have a coffee there before you go down.

7 The sheep got out ........................... a hole in the fence.

8 Pompeii is quite............................... Sorrento. It's only a short train ride.

9 There's such a crowd. You won't find your friend ………………… all these people.

Emma is in the phone box. Nick's dog is on the rug. There's someone at the door.

IN ON AT

in the phone box sit on the floor sit at my desk

in the kitchen walk on the pavement wait at the bus stop

work in the garden a number on the door at the crossroads

swim in the pool egg on your shirt wait at the traffic lights

In a town/country On a floor (1st, 2nd, etc) At a place on a journey

Kate lives in York. on the first floor Does this train stop at York?
Atlanta is in Georgia.

In a street (GB) On a street (US) At a house/an address

in Shirley Road on Fifth Avenue at Mike's (house)

On a road or river at 65 Shirley Road

a village on this road At an event

Paris is on the Seine. at the party

B In and at with buildings

IN AT

There are 400 seats in the cinema. I was at the cinema. (= watching a film)

It was raining, so we waited in the pub. We were at the pub. (= having a drink)

We use in when we mean inside a building. But we normally use at when we are talking about

what happens there.

C Some common phrases

IN ON AT

in prison/hospital on the platform at the station/airport

in the lesson on the farm at home/work/school

in a book/newspaper on the page/map

in the photo/picture on the screen

in the country on the island/beach/coast at the seaside

in the middle drive on the right/left at the top/bottom of a hill

in the back/front of a car on the back of an envelope at the back of the room

in a queue/line/row at the end of a corridor

87 In bed, at home, etc 123C In the car, on the train, etc

► He's on the table.

1 ………………………………………………. 3 ....................................................................................

2 .................................................................................. 4 ...................................................................................

2 In and at with buildings (B)

Complete each sentence. Use in or at and these words:

the petrol station, the restaurant, the stadium, the station, the theatre, the zoo

► There's a huge crowd in the stadium waiting for the Games to start.

1 Sarah's just rung. She's .......................................................... getting some petrol.

2 The children like wild animals. They'd love to spend an afternoon ........ ……………………..

3 It was so hot............................................................. that I didn't really enjoy the play.

4 We're quite a large group. There may not be enough room......................... ……………….for all of

us to sit together.

5 I saw Daniel while I was.............................................................. waiting for a train.

3 In, on and at (A, C)

Put in the preposition in, on or at.

► We spent the whole holiday on the beach.

1 I read about the pop festival …………….a magazine.

2 My parents' flat is.................. the twenty-first floor.

3 Melanie was holding a small bird ................ her hands.

4 I'll meet you................... the airport.

5 Natasha now lives ............ 32 The Avenue.

6 I was standing.................. the counter in the baker's shop, waiting to be served.

7 London is ............... the Thames.

8 There weren't many books.................. the shelves.

9 The passengers had to stand.................. a queue.

10 The woman sitting next to me left the train ................ Chesterfield.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1815