| Acknowledgements | 第4-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-8页 |
| Table of contents | 第8-10页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第10-13页 |
| 1.1 Background of the study | 第10页 |
| 1.2 Purpose of the study | 第10-11页 |
| 1.3 Significance of the study | 第11页 |
| 1.4 The Structure of the study | 第11-13页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第13-20页 |
| 2.1 Degree adverb | 第13页 |
| 2.2 Pattern | 第13-17页 |
| 2.2.1 Collocation | 第14-15页 |
| 2.2.2 Colligation | 第15-16页 |
| 2.2.3 Semantic preference and semantic prosody | 第16-17页 |
| 2.3 Model of extended units of meaning | 第17-18页 |
| 2.4 Previous studies of degree adverbs and patterns | 第18-20页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第20-24页 |
| 3.1 Research questions | 第20页 |
| 3.2 Research design | 第20-24页 |
| 3.2.1 Research objects | 第20-22页 |
| 3.2.2 Research method | 第22页 |
| 3.2.3 Research instrument | 第22-23页 |
| 3.2.4 Research procedures | 第23-24页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussion | 第24-42页 |
| 4.1 The patterns of degree adverbs in BNC | 第24-30页 |
| 4.1.1 Colligations of degree adverbs in BNC | 第24-27页 |
| 4.1.2 Semantic preferences and semantic prosodies of degree adverbs in BNC | 第27-30页 |
| 4.2 The patterns of degree adverbs in ST2 | 第30-39页 |
| 4.2.1 Colligation of degree adverbs in ST2 | 第31-32页 |
| 4.2.2 Semantic preferences and semantic prosodies of degree adverbs in ST2 | 第32-35页 |
| 4.2.3 The similarities and differences in patterns of degree adverbs between BNC and ST2 | 第35-39页 |
| 4.2.3.1 The similarities and differences in colligation | 第35-37页 |
| 4.2.3.2 The similarities and differences in semantic preference and semanticprosody | 第37-39页 |
| 4.3 The factors responsible for differences in characteristics of patterns | 第39-42页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第42-46页 |
| 5.1 Major findings | 第42-44页 |
| 5.2 Pedagogical implications | 第44页 |
| 5.3 Limitations and suggestions | 第44-46页 |
| Reference | 第46-48页 |
