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A. Both can mean ‘moderately’, but fairly is chiefly used with ‘favorable adjectives and adverbs (bravely, good, nice, well etc.), while rather is chiefly used in this sense before ‘unfavorable’ adjectives and adverbs (bad, stupidly, ugly etc.): Tom is fairly clever, but Peter is rather stupid. I walk fairly fast but Ann walks rather slowly. [...]
absolutely, almost, barely, completely, enough, entirely, extremely, fairly, far, hardly, just, much, nearly, only, quite, rather, really, scarcely, so, too, very etc. (For (a) little, see 5 D; for fairly and rather, see 42; for hardly, scarcely, barely, see 44; for quite, see 43.) A. An adverb of degree modifies an adjective or another adverb. [...]
These modify the whole sentence/clause and normally express the speaker’s/narrator’s opinion. A. Adverbs expressing degrees of certainty (a) actually (= in fact/really), apparently, certainly, clearly, evidently, obviously, presumably, probably, undoubtedly (b) definitely (c) perhaps, possibly, surely Adverbs in group (a) above can be placed after be: He is obviously intelligent. before simple tenses of other [...]
(a) always, continually, frequently, occasionally, often, once, twice, periodically, repeatedly, sometimes, usually etc. (b) ever, hardly ever, never, rarely, scarcely ever, seldom A. Adverbs in both the above groups are normally placed: 1. After the simple tenses of to be: He is always in time for meals. 2. Before the simple tenses of all other [...]
A. afterwards, eventually, lately, now, recently, soon, then, today, tomorrow etc. and adverb phrases of time: at once, since then, till (6.00 etc.) These are usually placed at the very beginning or at the very end of the clause, i.e. in front position or end position. End position is usual with imperatives and phrases with [...]
away, everywhere, here, nowhere, somewhere, there etc. A. If there is no object, these adverbs are usually placed after the verb: She went away. He lives abroad. Bill is upstairs. But they come after verb + object or verb + preposition + object: She sent him away. I looked for it everywhere. Adverb phrases, formed [...]
A. Adverbs of manner come after the verb: She danced beautifully or after the object when there is one: He gave her the money reluctantly. They speak English well. Do not put an adverb between verb and object. B. When we have verb + preposition + object, the adverb can be either before the preposition [...]
A. further, furthest These, like farther/farthest, can be used as adverbs of place/distance: It isn’t safe to go any further/farther in this fog.. But they can also be used in an abstract sense: Mr. A said that these toy pistols should not be on sale. Mr. B went further and said that no toy pistols [...]
When the same verb is required in both clauses we normally use an auxiliary for the second verb. A. With the positive form we use as … as with an affirmative verb, and as/so … as with a negative verb: He worked as slowly as he dared. He doesn’t snore as/so loudly as you do. [...]
A. With adverbs of two or more syllables we form the comparative and superlative by putting more and most before the positive form: Positive Comparative Superlative quickly fortunately more quickly more fortunately most quickly most fortunately Single-syllable adverbs, however, and early, add er, est: hard harder hardest early earlier earliest (note the y becomes i) [...]