2.150 reducing qualitative adjectives

Some submodifiers are used to reduce the effect of qualitative adjectives.

• It was faintly funny.
• It's a fairly common feeling.
• ...moderately rich people.
• ...his rather large stomach.
• There are two quite separate factors.
• My last question is somewhat personal.

Here is a list of submodifiers used to reduce the effect of an adjective:

• faintly, fairly, mildly, moderately, pretty, quite, rather, reasonably, slightly, so, somewhat

Note that 'quite' and 'rather', as well as being used as submodifiers to reduce the effect of an adjective, are also be used as predeterminers (see paragraph 1.236).

Note also that 'quite' and 'so' are normally only used with adjectives which are used after a link verb.

• She was quite tall.
• I am so sorry.