程度を表す副詞 - Adverbs of Degree
程度を表す副詞には下記のようなものがあります。
absolutely, completely, totally, entirely, fully
almost, nearly, practically
rather, somewhat,
very, so, too, pretty, quite,
hardly*, barely*, just, scarcely*, just
little, much, enough, far
程度を表す副詞は、通常、修飾される語の前に置かれます。副詞が修飾するのは、主に動詞・形容詞・副詞や、数＋名詞です。
I rather want to stay at home. （動詞wantの程度を表す)
I am absolutely sure about it. （形容詞sureの程度を表す)
I almost always go to class on time. （副詞alwaysの程度を表す)
It took nearly two hours to get there. （two hoursの程度を表す)
absolutely, completely, totally, entirely 等、100% の程度を表す副詞は、否定は NOT の位置に気をつけましょう。下記の文はそれぞれ意味が違います（否定の副詞参照）。
I completely don't understand this. (完全に…していない）
≠I don't completely understand this. (完全には…していない）
ALMOST, NEARLY, PRACTICALLY
ALMOST, NEARLY, PRACTICALLY は、「殆んど」という意味です。PRACTICALLY は、口語的表現です。
ALMOST や PRACTICALLY は、all, any, anything, everything 等の前によく使われます。
She likes almost any kinds of music.
He practically eats everything he grabs.
NEARLY は、数字の前でよく使われます。
There were nearly 10,000 people in the stadium.
It costs nearly million dollars to recover all the damage they suffered.
ALMOST, NEARLY は、「〜しそうになった（がしなかった）」という意味で使われる事があります。
I was almost late for school (but I wasn't).
She was nearly dead (but survived).
PRACTICALLY は、「殆ど〜したも同然」という意味で使われる事があります。
He is practically dead.
= He is as good as dead.
He practically threw his money down the drain.
= He wasted his money.
