pretty
The word pretty can be used as an adverb or as an adjective. As an adverb, it increases the strength of an adjective or an adjective plus a noun: pretty good, pretty nice, pretty useful. This use of “pretty” will be the focus for this lesson.
- This tastes pretty good. (adverb)
- I wake up pretty early in the morning. (adverb)
- My students told me this lesson is pretty useful. (adverb)
As an adjective, pretty is similar to the adjective beautiful.
- She’s very pretty. (adjective)
- The flowers on the table look pretty. (adjective)
How to Use "Pretty" as an Intensifier in
American English
a. pretty = very
As an adverb, you can use the word “pretty” in ways that are similar to using words such as very, really, and so, but there are differences. This is a class of words known as intensifiers. They increase the meaning or the degree or an adjective.
- This is pretty good. (This is very good.)
- You’re pretty smart. (You are very smart.)
- That was a pretty stupid thing he did. (It was really stupid.)
- She’s pretty upset about breaking up with her boyfriend. (She’s extremely upset.)
- The twins don’t look exactly the same, but they’re pretty close in appearance. (pretty close = almost the same)
- The accident was pretty bad. (This could be an example of an understatement in which a situation is catastrophic.)
There are various shades of meaning when it comes to intensifiers such as pretty. This is a hard thing to pick up on. To know the differences requires a lot of exposure to spoken and written English. Eventually, you will understand what makes these words different from one another.
a. pretty = very
- I’m pretty sure that snake isn’t poisonous, but I’m not 100% sure.
- He got pretty mad at his wife for buying something they didn’t need.
b. pretty = beautiful
As an adjective, the word “pretty” is similar to “beautiful,” but there are some differences. Used for girls and women, pretty is a little less than beautiful. A woman who is pretty is attractive, but a woman who is beautiful is generally held in higher regard.
- She’s a very pretty girl.
- Everyone commented on how pretty Gloria looked in her dress.
- Vanessa is the prettiest girl in the class.
- Lisa looks very pretty today.
- The flowers on the table look pretty.
- The white and orange kitten is very pretty.
b. pretty = beautiful
- She’s very pretty.
- Her hair looks pretty when she wears it like that.
- Many people say she’s pretty but not beautiful.
c. expressions that use "pretty"
The following expressions are popular in American English:
- After 30 years of saving for their retirement, John and Alice are sitting pretty. (They are in a good situation.)
- As a top student in all of her classes, Renee is more than just a pretty face. (She’s pretty, and she’s very smart.)
- This vacation is going to cost a pretty penny. (It’s going to cost a lot.)
- We’re pretty much finished. (almost finished)
- The damage done to the house after the tornado was not a pretty sight. (not a pretty sight = not a good situation; not in good shape)
- The hotdog eating contest was not a pretty sight. In fact, it was disgusting.
c. expressions that use "pretty"
- Homelessness is not a pretty sight.