|
|
#2 (permalink) Mon Sep 15, 2008 0:13 am Do not use quite instead of very, rather or somewhat. |
|
|
Hi! 'Quite' and 'very' are used as intensifiers. I think that 'quite' is less emphatic than 'very' or 'extremely'. There is a difference in meaning in the following examples. a. House A is quite expensive. ($ 20,000) b. House B is very expensive. ($ 30,000) Both houses are expensive but house A is not as expensive as house B. Quite can be replaced by rather or somewhat. |
|
Al07 New Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Algeria
|
|
#3 (permalink) Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:03 am Thanks al07 |
|
|
Thanks a lot al07, I appreciate your input.
God Bless you. Cisco. _________________ Please, always correct me if I have made any kind of mistakes in my posts. |
|
Cisco795 I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 124 Location: Mèxico
|
 |
#4 (permalink) Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:10 am Do not use quite instead of very, rather or somewhat. |
|
|
I would slightly disagree with the website; in British English,
1. X is quite expensive.
can mean
2. X is very expensive.
In such cases, "quite expensive" rises in intonation on "-pens-"; but where "quite" means "rather", the rise in intonation is on "quite".
MrP |
|
MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
|
 |
#5 (permalink) Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:15 am Do not use quite instead of very, rather or somewhat. |
|
|
Hi MrP, I've heard that there is a difference in the meaning of 'quite' in British English and American English. 'quite' means 'very' in BrE and 'rather' in AmE. Is that right or wrong?
Many thanks, Nessie. _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
|
 |
#6 (permalink) Mon Sep 15, 2008 15:41 pm Do not use quite instead of very, rather or somewhat. |
|
|
Hi Nessie
MrP gave you examples of British usage. Pay attention to what he told you about intonation -- I have heard and been told exactly the same sort of thing by other Brits. For example, saying "The film was quite good" is not the same as saying "The film was quite good". Though you might possibly hear the same sort of difference in the intonation of "quite" in AmE, I think this difference in meaning (based on intonation) for the word "quite" is more typically British than American.
Very generally speaking, the meaning of "quite" in AmE would usually be "very" rather than "rather/somewhat".
Naturally, there are other usages as well. . _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
|
Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
|
 |
#7 (permalink) Mon Sep 15, 2008 23:06 pm Do not use quite instead of very, rather or somewhat. |
|
|
| Yankee wrote: |
| For example, saying "The film was quite good" is not the same as saying "The film was quite good". |
Yes, I think that's it – the former suggests "having some reservations about the quality of the film", while the latter suggests "being pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film".
MrP |
|
MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
|
 |
|
| Words combination: "reason ... because" (Incorrect) | Test: Many people are waiting for the news bulletin. It will ... soon. |