📘 Quite vs. Rather

Both "quite" and "rather" are adverbs used to show degree or intensity.
They are often used before adjectives or adverbs.

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1️⃣ QUITE

🔹 Two meanings depending on the adjective:

a) With gradable adjectives → "fairly", "moderately"

Not very strong

Examples:

• The movie was quite interesting.
• She’s quite tired today.

b) With non-gradable adjectives → "completely", "absolutely"

Stronger meaning

Examples:

• That’s quite right.
• The idea is quite impossible.

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2️⃣ RATHER

🔹 Used to show something is more than expected, often with a surprise or opinion.
It can also express preference or criticism.

Examples:

• It’s rather cold today.
• He was rather rude to the waiter.
• I’d rather stay home tonight. (different meaning – preference)

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🟨 Compare:

Sentence with "quite"	Sentence with "rather"
She’s quite friendly.	She’s rather unfriendly.
The movie was quite good.	The movie was rather boring.
It’s quite expensive, actually.	It’s rather expensive, don’t you think?

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⚠️ British vs. American English

• In British English: "Quite" can mean fairly or completely, depending on context.
• In American English: "Quite" usually means very.

Example (British): It’s quite good = fairly good
Example (American): It’s quite good = very good

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📝 Practice

Choose the correct adverb: quite or rather

1. It’s ___ hot for October! → rather
2. The test was ___ easy. → quite
3. She’s ___ talented — she plays 3 instruments! → quite
4. His tone was ___ sarcastic. → rather
5. That’s ___ unusual, isn’t it? → rather