QUIET or QUITE – Confusing English words

This English class has 2 versions: 1) Video version  and 2) Text version.

I recommend that you watch the video in order to listen to the correct pronunciation. The text version is below the video:

Photo credit: David Castillo Dominici | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

quiet
pronunciation: /kwaɪt/

quite
pronunciation: /kwaɪt/

These 2 words have a similar spelling. But they are pronounced differently. They also have very different meanings and uses. Let’s look at the differences.

quiet

/kwaɪt/

quiet is an adjective. (An adjective modifies a noun.)

quiet means:
= making little noise
= with very little activity or excitement

Examples:

The baby is very quiet. I think he’s sleeping.
(The baby is not making any noise. The adjective “quiet” is modifying the noun “baby”)

The cinema is always quiet on Sundays.
(With little activity – not many customers)

“Shhh, please be quiet during the exam.”
(Don’t make any noise)

quite

/kwaɪt/

quite is an adverb. (An adverb modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb)

quite defines the degree of something:
= a little or a lot, but not completely

Examples:

Jane: “I’m feeling quite tired.”
(A little tired, but not completely tired. Not very tired. Here the adverb “quite” is modifying the adjective “tired”)

The English exam was quite difficult.
(It was a little difficult, but not very difficult.)

Mark: I will be there soon. I’m walking quite quickly.
(I’m walking quickly. Not very quickly. But certainly not slowly. Here the adverb “quite” is modifying another adverb “quickly”)

An example using both words

“The restaurant is quite quiet on Mondays.”
(The restaurant doesn’t have many customers on Mondays. But it is not completely empty. Here the adverb “quite” is modifying the adjective “quiet”)

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