Quite | English Usage

Quite suggests a higher degree than fairly. It can modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns.

• The film was quite good. (modifies the adjective good)
• I can speak French quite well. (modifies the adverb well)
• I quite dislike him. (modifies the verb dislike)
• That was quite a celebration. (modifies the noun celebration)

With non-gradable adjectives and adverbs quite means completely.

• It is quite impossible. (=It is completely impossible.)
• I have quite finished. (=I have completely finished.)

With gradable adjectives and adverbs, quite means something like ‘fairly’ or ‘rather’.

• It is quite surprising.

Quite is not used directly before comparatives. We use other words like rather, much or a bit.

• She is rather taller than her husband. (NOT She is quite taller than her husband.)

This rule, however, has an exception. Quite can be used before better.

• I feel quite better today.

With nouns

We use quite a/an before a noun with a gradable adjective or no adjective.

• The film was quite a success.
• She is quite a crowd puller.
• That was quite a celebration.
• It was quite a pleasant surprise.

With non-gradable adjectives, quite comes after a/an.

• It was a quite perfect day. (NOT It was quite a perfect day.)