A Workbook to Communicative Grammar of English (18 page)

7.
The barrel of the gun pointed (in my direction; intimidatingly).

8.
Martin Cash arrived (after a career of crimes, arrests and escapes; in 1840; in the penal colony of Port Arthur).

9.
Hudson travelled (extensively; for several years; in the North).

10.
Mr Lee was (in his office; in Hong Kong; on the fourth floor of a supermarket).

11.
Ruth gazed (at the paving stone; fixedly; under her feet).

12.
Tallinn became visible (about 1 o’clock; in the afternoon; to starboard).

7.17. Degree

Section 215; 459

Expressions of degree can have a heightening or a lowering effect on some part of the sentence. They are usually adverbs acting as modifiers of adjectives, adverbs, etc. or adverbials typically occurring in mid-position: I’m
very
hungry./We
entirely
agree with you.

Task *

Identify the degree expressions in the following sentences, specifying

(a)
whether they have a heightening (H) or a lowering (L) effect

(b)
whether they function as modifiers (M) or as adverbials (A).

1.
The two pictures looked particularly valuable to me.

2.
The word cathedral simply means ‘a chair’.

3.
Just getting the facts straight is monumentally difficult.

4.
There were quite a number of things we didn’t know.

5.
I had pretty much given up on watching TV.

6.
It’s almost impossible to get through to New York.

7.
Russians care deeply about whether their country is consulted.

8.
The government can ill afford to give in to these demands.

9.
Observers claimed that the brutal regime had totally collapsed.

10.
It’s all but certain that the two presidents will reach a deal.

11.
Perhaps I should try to be a little more like a stern nanny.

12.
We’re all terribly grateful to dear Wilfred.

13.
It really bothers me that I can’t leave right now.

14.
Swallowing is piercingly painful, and only partly relieved by a swig from my water bottle.

(Michael Palin,
Pole to Pole
, p. 125)

15.
I let myself into a neat but rather gloomy cabin, barely half the size of Officer B’s – the fully furnished life of someone small, slender and dainty in their movements.

(Jonathan Raban,
Hunting Mister Heartbreak
, p. 56)

7.18. Gradable words and degree 1

Sections 216–218

Degree only applies to gradable words: scale words indicate a relative position on a scale (large, small), while limit words indicate the end-point of a scale (black, white).

Degree expressions with adjective scale words can be different from those used with verb scale words, especially when indicating extreme positions (
very
tall vs rain (
very) much
) or intensifying the meaning slightly (
pretty
hard vs increase
considerably
).

Downtoners tend to be the same (
slightly
uncomfortable/fall
slightly
).

Degree adverbs with limit words are usually the same whether used with adjectives or with verbs (
completely
black/disagree
completely
).

Task one **

Insert an acceptable degree expression from the set listed below. (A) stands for ‘indicating extreme position’, (B) for ‘intensifying slightly’ and (C) for ‘toning down’.

1.
The situation in the border area is getting desperate. (B)

2.
High Street spending has increased over the last two months. (B)

3.
Teachers are complaining about class sizes these days. (A)

4.
In her early nineties now, Mrs Wilson is beginning to look frail. (A)

5.
Ricky’s mood swings are making me feel uncomfortable. (C)

6.
On the whole, I like these after-dinner speeches. (B)

7.
Careful, that wooden chest is heavy! (B)

8.
Aren’t you getting worried about Mandy’s recent behaviour? (C)

9.
Teenagers tend to admire pop stars. (A)

10.
I think we should reword this letter. (C)

11.
We were given an accurate description of the situation. (B)

12.
Dear Kenny, I’m looking forward to your visit. (A)

Task two *

Complete the following sentences, using the more (or most) appropriate of the degree expressions in brackets.

1.
I felt ____________ uneasy at the thought of meeting my rival. (considerably; rather)

2.
I remember Aunt Dolly’s words ____________. (exactly; very much)

3.
Henry’s work is ____________ sentimental for my taste. (a lot; too)

4.
Smoking on these premises is ____________ forbidden. (rather; strictly)

5.
Our victory has proved our enemies ____________ wrong. (practically; utterly)

6.
Somebody who works ____________ is often described as a workaholic. (a great deal; considerably)

7.
Jack told me he wasn’t ____________ bored. (absolutely; in the least)

8.
The original edition is still useful as it has only been modified ____________. (slightly; virtually)

9.
People who drink too much may have to stop working ___________. (altogether; quite)

10.
Walking on the surface of the sun is ____________ impossible. (nearly; quite)

11.
I was ____________ surprised when I heard these rumours. (a little; a great deal)

12.
The idea that ____________ any anachronism can be rescued is ____________ popular. (almost; completely; extremely)

7.19. Gradable words and degree 2

Sections 219–221

Comparative adjectives and adverbs are modified by degree words used as adverbials:
much
healthier. Superlatives can be intensified by degree adverbs like
altogether
and
very
:
altogether
the best show/the
very
best show.

The adverbial
very much
is often to be preferred to
much
: I liked it
very much
.

The degree adverbs
entirely, fairly
and
quite
tend to suggest a positive meaning, while
completely, rather, utterly
and
a bit
/
little
often suggest a negative one:
fairly
warm vs
rather
warm.

Task one **

Complete the following sentences, adding degree expressions which indicate ‘extreme position on the scale’.

1.
A giraffe’s legs are ____________ longer than an antelope’s.

2.
Our success ____________ depends on your willingness to cooperate.

3.
We offer ____________ the highest quality in dental care.

4.
Some laboratories are using the ____________ latest cloning techniques.

5.
I like these Beethoven sonatas ____________.

6.
Dad looks ____________ more relaxed these days.

7.
Ignoring the problem would be the ____________ worst solution.

8.
Well, mate, I’ve done ____________ better than you this time, eh?

9.
This studio has produced ____________ the most enchanting pictures.

10.
I know you must be ____________ busy but I would ____________ welcome a visit from you.

Task two **

Add an appropriate degree adverb to a gradable element in the following sentences. (A) stands for ‘indicating extreme position’, (B) for ‘intensifying slightly’ and (C) for ‘toning down’.

1.
Jimmy looked pathetic standing in the rain outside. (B)

2.
Joan seemed at ease in this new environment. (A)

3.
It’s a pleasant walk now that the heather is in full bloom. (B)

4.
The information we received was accurate. (B)

5.
The next of kin were devastated by the news. (A)

6.
I’m not convinced that this is the ideal approach. (A)

7.
For thirty years Mr Lee made an easy living as a fisherman. (B)

8.
I’ve been worried about my health lately. (C)

9.
What you were saying is beside the point. (A)

10.
It would be foolish to support such a stupid idea. (A)

7.20. Other aspects of degree adverbs

Sections 222–223

Words like
new
and
full
can be used as scale words and as limit words (
very/absolutely
new).

A scale word and a different limit word can deal with the same area of meaning (
very
tired vs
absolutely
exhausted).

A scale word often corresponds to one or more limit words, intensifying its meaning (
very
bad vs
absolutely
terrible).

Words like
barely
and
hardly
are negative degree adverbs, while
at all
occurs in both negative and interrogative sentences. Some degree adverbs tend to intensify specific verbs (need
badly
, enjoy
thoroughly
).

Task one ***

Intensify the meaning of the underlined phrases by replacing them with limit words preceded by matching degree adverbs.

1.
Some of these 19th century stamps are
very rare
.

2.
After such a long walk we were all
really hungry
.

3.
The health situation in the flooded areas was
very bad
.

4.
All that unfair criticism made me feel
quite irritated
.

5.
Robust economic growth is
somewhat unlikely
.

6.
The latest novel by Tom Wolfe is
rather interesting
.

7.
The results of the investigation are
quite unbelievable
.

8.
At a five-star restaurant the food is bound to be
very good
.

9.
Working yourself to death like this is
rather stupid
.

10.
The preliminary estimates turned out to be
quite incorrect
.

Task two **

Add to the underlined parts degree adverbs which (a) are inherently negative OR (b) intensify the meaning of the verb.

An old ruler was complaining that
he was not loved
by his subjects.
However he tried
to convince them of HIS love for THEM, it was all to no avail. The old man
failed
to realize that people
disapproved
of the way he managed the finances of the realm.

Years of excessive spending had left his country
with no money
. Endless military campaigns had been draining it of
funds needed elsewhere
.

Was it possible
to make the ruler change his policies? It
seemed
so. Even though his subjects
wanted reform
,
he disagreed
with even the suggestion of change.

7.21. Role, standard and point of view

Section 224

A gradable word can have its meaning qualified in terms of

•
role
: Anna is very good
at swimming./As a swimmer
, she is very good.

•
standard
: Anna is a good swimmer
for a twelve-year-old
.

It is also possible to specify the point of view from which a word or phrase is understood: Anna is a good swimmer
in a technical sense
./
Morally
, it was a difficult problem.

Task one *

Identify the expressions indicating
role, standard
and
point of view
, determining to which of the three categories each expression belongs.

1.
In theory, most of our environmental problems can be solved.

2.
Britain is bad at dealing with extreme weather conditions.

3.
If you inadvertently wander off the footpath, you are technically trespassing.

4.
For a man aged over sixty, running such a distance was quite an achievement.

5.
We have become successful by being expert at solving problems.

6.
As a football player, David Beckham is unbeatable.