QUIT - QUITE - QUIET

The words quit, quite and quiet can be confusing for learners who may have difficulty using them. The difference between them is explained below, with examples of use.

• QUIT :
  Quit is a verb meaning:
  
  • To leave a place or a job:
    • “Alex quit college during his second year.’
    • "His multiple injuries forced him to quit active service.”
    • “Jenny is going to quit teaching and become full-time writer.”
      
      
  • To stop or discontinue doing something:
    • “Sam says he’s going to quit smoking.”
    • "Quit complaining and get on with the job!"
      
      
• QUITE :
  Quite is an adverb meaning ‘fairly’, ‘to some degree', ‘a little’:
  • “It’s quite warm outside today.”
  • “The house we bought needs quite a bit of work.”
  • "The candidate spoke English quite well."
  • "I quite like living in a small town.”
    
    
Quite can be used for emphasis:
• “Julie made it quite clear that she was against the idea.”
• “It was quite obvious that her husband was of the same opinion.”
  
  
Quite can be used to indicate agreement:
• “I think he’s looking for information.” “Quite”.
• “That was a strange thing to say.” “Quite!
  
  
Not quite means ‘not completely or fully’:
• “The window is not quite closed.
• “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
• "After his illness, Charlie was never quite the same.”
  
  
• QUIET :
  Quiet is an adjective meaning ‘not noisy or agitated’, 'not busy', 'calm' or ‘discreet’:
  • "I told the children to be quiet while I was on the phone.”
  • "This is a quiet area. There is not much traffic.”
  • "Business has been quiet since the beginning of the year."
  • "We preferred to have a quiet wedding with just our two families.
  • "Early in the morning the streets are empty and quiet."
  • "The doctor said she'd have a quiet word with my mother."