Put very or really before a describing word to make it stronger. They mean about the same (really is a little more casual).
very and really make it stronger
It's very cold today.
She's really kind.
That film was really good.
Try it: The show was amazing! It was ___ good. (really / quite / too) Answer: really — "Amazing" means strongly good, so use really (or very): really good.
quite and fairly mean a bit, not a lot
quite and fairly are softer than very. In British English, quite usually softens: quite cold means a bit cold, not freezing.
It's quite cold. (a bit cold, not freezing)
The test was fairly easy.
The film was quite good. (good, but not amazing)
Try it: It's not freezing, just ___ cold. You'll be fine without a coat. (quite / very / too) Answer: quite — You mean a bit cold, not a lot, so use quite: quite cold. "Very" would mean strongly cold, and "too" would mean it is a problem.
too is a problem, not just strong
too is not the same as very. too means more than is good, a problem. Also: say too cold, never "too much cold" with a describing word.
It's very cold, but we can still go out. (strong, but OK)
It's too cold to go out. (a problem, we can't)
I'm too tired. (not "too much tired")
Not "It's very too cold." — say "It's too cold. / It's very cold.". Do not put very and too together. Pick one.
Try it: I can't carry this, it's ___ heavy. (too / too much / very too) Answer: too — It is a problem (you can't carry it), so use too + the word: too heavy. "Too much" does not go before a describing word, and "very too" puts two together.
enough sits on the other side
One more word belongs on this scale, and it breaks the pattern. very, quite and too all go before the describing word — enough goes after it: warm enough, never "enough warm".
before: very warm · quite warm · too warm
after: warm enough
Is the water warm enough? (as warm as we need)
He's tall enough to reach the shelf. (he can reach it)
Not "She is enough old to vote." — say "She is old enough to vote.". enough comes after the describing word, not before it.
Try it: The soup has cooled down. It's ___ to eat now. Go ahead! (cool enough / enough cool / too cool) Answer: cool enough — It is as cool as you need, so use enough — and enough goes after the word: cool enough. "Enough cool" is the wrong order, and "too cool" would mean it is a problem.
Try it: Which sentence is correct? (My bag is light enough to carry. / My bag is enough light to carry. / My bag is very light enough to carry.) Answer: My bag is light enough to carry. — enough goes after the describing word: light enough. "Enough light" is the wrong order, and you cannot add very to enough.
How strong? A quick scale
From soft to strong: quite / fairly (a bit) → very / really (strong). too is different — it means a problem, more than is good. And remember the position: very, quite and too go before the word, but enough goes after it.
quite warm → very warm → too warm (a problem)
before the word: very big, too big
after the word: big enough
Try it: The water was ___ warm — just right. The sun was ___ strong, so we got sunburnt. (quite … too / too … quite / very … quite) Answer: quite … too — Just right → quite. A problem → too.