1）fairly, quite, rather表示“十分，非常”。fairly语气最弱，放在不定冠词之后；quite语气较强，放在不定冠词之前；rather语气最强，可放在不定冠词前后，也可放在比较级前和too之前。
【例如】
This is a fairly interesting story. I want to tell it to my friends.
You have made quite a few mistakes in you writing. (quite a few =many)The weather is rather colder today than I have expected. The student was rather too dull.
2）hardly, scarcely表示“几乎不”，含否定含义。用于句首时，句子用倒装语序。hardly和scarcely与when连用，表示“一……，就……”，相当于as soon as.
【例如】
Hardly had I arrived at the station when the train left.
Scarcely had I entered the cinema when the film began.
3）late意思是“晚”，lately意思为“近来”；high表示位置，highly表示程度；most作副词表示“最……”，mostly表示“主要的”。
【例如】
The plane flew high in the sky and soon disappeared. My teacher speaks highly of me. Remember not to be late next time. Have you ever heard from him lately? What do you like most? The village is mostly of brick houses.
4）only too only too表示“很，非常”。
【例如】
I am only too pleased to help you.
