User:Викидим/Adverbs of degree

In English grammar, adverbs of degree indicate how much or to what extent a property or action applies.^[1] In their most typical use, they modify adjectives and adverbs, as in very young or rather seriously.^[2] They also modify verbs, though verbs are less readily gradable than adjectives and adverbs.^[3] Common examples include very, completely, and slightly.^[4] Some degree adverbs, such as a lot, can answer a how much question, but others, such as completely and almost, cannot.^[5]

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Older grammar traditions often group these words under the traditional label of adverbs of quantity. Modern linguists prefer the term degree. They make a formal distinction between adverbs that operate as degree expressions and adverbs that quantify over times.^[6] This class of adverbs also includes intensifiers, which serve to boost or maximize meaning.^[7]

Terminological variation

The term adverbs of quantity is a traditional label. It maps roughly onto the modern category of adverbs of degree. English linguistics has largely moved away from the quantity label. However, the term persists in older English grammars and in Romance language traditions.

19th-century English use

Older English grammars used the term quantity to describe these words. John C. Nesfield classified them as adverbs of quantity, extent, or degree in his book English Grammar Past and Present.^[8] Modern English linguistics now prefers the term adverbs of degree.

Romance languages

The quantity label remains common in Romance language grammars. French reference grammars use the term adverbe de quantité. Maurice Grevisse and André Goosse use this classification in Le Bon Usage.^[9] The Real Academia Española uses the terms adverbio de cantidad and adverbio de grado for Spanish.^[10] The Academia notes that this traditional grouping is sometimes problematic today.^[10] These adverbs can express intensity, time, or space depending on the verb they modify.^[10]

Classification

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language divides degree adjuncts into seven subgroups.^[11] The term degree is used as a cover term, though the authors note that its fit varies across the subgroups.^[5]

Maximal degree adverbs indicate the top end of the scale.^[12] Examples include completely, entirely, and utterly.^[12]
Multal degree adverbs cover a range from above the midpoint to near the top.^[13] Examples include much, greatly, and profoundly.^[13]
Moderate degree adverbs indicate a middle level.^[14] Examples include rather, somewhat, and quite (in one of its uses).^[14]
Paucal degree adverbs indicate a low degree.^[15] Examples include slightly and a little.^[15]
Minimal degree adverbs indicate the bottom end of the scale or near-zero degree.^[16] Examples include barely, hardly, and at all.^[16]
Approximating degree adverbs indicate that conditions for something are close to being met.^[16] Examples include almost and nearly.^[16]
Relative degree adverbs do not identify a fixed point on the scale but quantify degree relative to some other situation.^[17] Examples include enough, sufficiently, more, and too much.^[17]

An alternative classification comes from Quirk et al. They group adverbs of degree into amplifiers and downtoners.^[7] This system does not use the term quantity.^[7]

Formal distinction

Linguist Jenny Doetjes outlines a formal distinction between degree adverbs and frequency adverbs.^[18] Both types can appear synonymous in certain contexts, but they behave differently in syntax and semantics.^[19] This distinction matters because it explains why these adverbs cannot always replace each other.^[18]

Degree adverbs operate on expressions that introduce a scale.^[20] They measure the global amount of a mass or the size of a plural group.^[21] They do not inherently mean that an event happens many times.^[22] Frequency adverbs work differently. They quantify over times.^[6] They indicate the number of events.^[22]

The difference becomes clear with mass predicates like rain.^[23] The sentence It rained a lot uses a degree adverb.^[22] It describes a large total amount of rain.^[22] The sentence It rained often uses a frequency adverb.^[22] It describes a large number of separate rain events.^[22]

This core difference changes how the adverbs function with indefinite nouns. Frequency adverbs can take wide scope over indefinite nouns.^[24] A sentence like John buys two kilos of olives more often than Peter does is grammatical.^[25] Degree adverbs cannot take wide scope over indefinite nouns.^[24] A sentence like John buys two kilos of olives more than Peter does is not grammatical in the same way.^[25]

Another difference involves relational readings. Frequency adverbs allow for relational readings.^[26] For example, When he is in Paris, Pierre often visits the Louvre can mean that on many of his trips to Paris, he visits the museum.^[26] Degree adverbs do not allow for relational readings.^[27] The sentence When he is in Paris, Pierre visits the Louvre a lot only means that his visits are frequent during a given stay.^[27] It cannot mean that a high share of his Paris trips include a museum visit.^[27]

Intensifiers

Intensifiers are a subset of degree adverbs. They map to the amplifiers category in the classification by Quirk et al.^[7] This category includes boosters and maximizers. The term intensifier describes adverbs that increase the strength of the word they modify.