这三个副词都可用来说明形容词和副词的程度,十分容易混淆。
1).fairly意为“相当,还算”,是这一组词中语气最轻的一个。quite为“相当,或多或少地,在某种程度 上”,语气比fairly稍强。rather为“相当,有点,颇”,在这三个副词中语气最强。试比较下列各句: This film is fairly good.这部电影还可以看看。 Your composition is quite good.你的作文还不错。 His homework is rather good.他的作业相当不错。 又如: This book is fairly easy.这本书还算浅易。 He is quite grown up.他差不多长大成人了。 That is rather hard to explain right away.要立即说明是颇有难度的 2).fairly只用于修饰褒义的形容词和副词,如可以说She is fairly clever,不可说She is fairly foolish。rather主要用于贬义,如rather poor/bad/stupid/ugly,但它也可以用在某些褒义的形容词和副词前,具有比fairly更强烈的褒义,相当于very,如rather good/ well/pretty /clever。 另外,若在没有褒贬意义的词前用fairly,表示说话人赞同;若用rather,则表示不赞同。试比较: This soup is fairly hot.这汤蛮热的。 This soup is rather hot.这汤太烫了。 She is fairly tall for her age.就她的年龄来说,她长得算是高了。 She is rather tall for her age.就她的年龄来说,她长得过于高了。 3).rather可与too及比较级连用,而fairly和quite则不可。如: My mother is rather better today.我母亲今天病好多了。 This book is rather too difficult for the juniors and rather too easy for the seniors. 这本书对低年级学生说来未免太难,对高年级学生说来又嫌太容易。 4).quite和rather还可和动词连用,fairly则不可和动词连用。如: This does not quite satisfy me.这没有完全使我满意。 I don't quite follow you.我不大懂你的话。 They rather expected to win the match.他们颇想赢得这场比赛。 I rather like her.我相当喜欢她。 5). quite和rather都可修饰名词,但须放在不定冠词前。如: That was quite an accident.那是一次不太寻常的事故。 It's rather a pity.这真是相当遗憾。当名词前有形容时,quite和rather可放在不定冠词后,也可放在不定冠词前。如:They had a quite good time. 也可说quite a good time。It is a rather cold day. 也可说rather a cold day。 |
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