Pretty

We can use pretty as an adverb, before an adjective or another adverb, meaning ‘quite, but not extremely’. It is informal:

I’m pretty sure we’ve met before. Were you at Clare Harding’s wedding?

You need to get there pretty early to get a good seat.

Pretty well as a modifier means ‘almost’:

That’s pretty well all we need to do this morning, so why don’t we break for lunch?

Warning:

We don’t use pretty in more formal situations. We use quite or fairly:

[in a job application letter]

At present I am employed at a branch of the National Bank in a fairly large city.

Not: … in a pretty large city.

Pretty does not mean the same as very:

It was very kind of you to lend us your car when we stayed with you.

Not: It was pretty kind of you …

We don’t use pretty in negative sentences:

The restaurant wasn’t very good, really. I don’t think we’ll go there again. (or The restaurant wasn’tsogood …)

Not: … wasn’t pretty good …

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