Quote:
Originally Posted by rhapsomatrics  "Quite" and" rather",though somewhat similar,have basic contextual and grammatical diferences.While "rather",more often than not,shows contrast "quite"does the work of emphasis...It's RATHER unusual...a change from naturality...it's been quite an age...emphasis.... |
Rather can be used in two different ways:
1. With negative adjectives: The soup is rather cold. In this case "fairly is used with positive adjectives: The soup is fairly hot.
2. With positive adjectives when it changes its meaning to "very" and imply surprise: His office was rather tidy. He was rather intelligent. The speaker here expresses his/her surprise at sth not expected.