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 #17 (permalink) Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:44 am Continuing the rather/quite saga... |
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I was looking around on the Web trying to figure out how to describe the word "quite" to Chinese speakers (on the China Daily BBS, of all places) when I came across this thread.
| Quote: |
quite
As I understand, in the same context American and British people tend to interpret the meaning of quite a bit differently. I mean:
quite (AmE) = 'very' or 'extremely'
quite (BrE) = 'reasonably, but not very' |
This quote reminded me of how, when I was in second grade, my mother surprised me one day when she appeared as a substitute teacher for my class. At the end of the day, as she drove me home, I settled into the back seat of the car and announced, "You know, you were quite good today."
The meaning—from my American mouth to her American ears—was not lost on either of us. (My mother, to her credit, found it endlessly amusing and told the anecdote for years.) |
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Californian
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Tamara
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| #19 (permalink) Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:50 am Rather good vs. quite good |
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Hi all,
I am totally agree with you about the use of "rather" and "quite" that you've mentioned.
I'd like to ask something.
In general:
Quite (positive meaning), rather (negative meaning).
Ex: She's quite intelligent but rather lazy.
Besides:
1/
Quite + a/an +noun or quite +verb.
Ex: It's quite a nice day.
I quite like tennis.
2/
Rather + a/an +noun = rather + noun + a/an
Ex: It was a rather difficult question.
= It was rather a difficult question.
= This question was rather difficult.
3/ rather than (not "quite than") = instead of.
Ex: I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.
Bye
Van Khanh |
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Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)
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Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam
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| #20 (permalink) Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:52 am Rather good vs. quite good |
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Hi all,
I am totally agree with you about the use of "rather" and "quite" that you've mentioned.
I'd like to add something.
In general:
Quite (positive meaning), rather (negative meaning).
Ex: She's quite intelligent but rather lazy.
Besides:
1/ Quite + a/an +noun or quite +verb.
Ex: It's quite a nice day.
I quite like tennis.
2/ Rather + a/an +noun = rather + noun + a/an
Ex: It was a rather difficult question.
= It was rather a difficult question.
= This question was rather difficult.
3/ rather than (not "quite than") = instead of.
Ex: I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.
Bye
Van Khanh |
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Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam
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| #21 (permalink) Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:34 am Endless saga… |
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Just to add…
| Van Khanh wrote: |
Rather + a/an +noun = rather + noun + a/an
Ex: It was a rather difficult question.
= It was rather a difficult question.
= This question was rather difficult. |
rather a
a rather
| Quote: |
Before an unmodified noun only rather a is used: It was rather a disaster. When the noun is preceded by an adjective, however, both rather a and a rather (  ) are found: It was rather a boring party. It was a rather boring party. When a rather is used in this construction, rather qualifies only the adjective, whereas with rather a it qualifies either the adjective or the entire noun phrase. Thus a rather long ordeal can mean only “an ordeal that is rather long,” whereas rather a long ordeal can also mean roughly “a long process that is something of an ordeal.” Rather a is the only possible choice when the adjective itself does not permit modification. Thus we say The horse was rather a long shot but not The horse was a rather long shot. |
to be continued…
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Tamara
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| #22 (permalink) Thu Jul 27, 2006 14:19 pm Quite |
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To complicate matters a bit more, stress can alter the meaning of 'quite':
I found the novel quite captivating => I found the novel captivating, but not too captivating.
I found the novel quite captivating => I found the novel really very captivating. |
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Conchita
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| Difficult sentences from the book Washington Square | "If ever I was..." vs "If ever was I..." |
), I’d rather not take this as a true wild worm. But maybe, I’m wrong.