6.52 other adverbs of degree

There are some special adverbs of degree. These include 'much', which can be used as an adverb of degree in negative clauses, and in reported questions after 'how'.

• Programs and program efficiency have not developed much.
• These definitions do not help much.
• They told the farmer how much they wanted to get the harvest in.
• She had observed how much they disliked her.

'Very much' is also used in a similar way.

• She is charming. We like her very much.

The comparative adverbs 'better' and 'worse' and the superlative adverbs 'best' and 'worst' can also be adverbs of degree.

• You know better.
• The expedition from Mozambique fared worst, that from Namibia best.

'More' can be used as a comparative adverb of degree.

• Her tears frightened him more than anything that had ever happened to him before.

'Most' and 'least' can be used as superlative adverbs of degree.

• She gave me the opportunity to do what I wanted to do most.
• They staged some of his least known operas.

Comparative adverbs and superlative adverbs are explained in the section begiining at paragraph 6.30.

The noun groups 'a bit', 'a great deal', 'a little', and 'a lot' are also used as adverbs of degree.

• I don't like this a bit.
• The situation's changed a great deal since then.