Intensifiers

Intensifiers in English

Intensifiers are words or phrases used to add emphasis or intensity to adjectives or adverbs. They amplify the meaning of the word they modify, making the expression stronger or more intense. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and using intensifiers:


Common Intensifiers

  1. Very
    • Use: To strengthen the meaning of an adjective or adverb.
    • Example: She is very happy. (She is extremely happy.)
  2. Really
    • Use: Similar to “very,” but often considered more informal.
    • Example: The movie was really good. (The movie was exceptionally good.)
  3. So
    • Use: To emphasize a high degree of something.
    • Example: He is so tired. (He is extremely tired.)
  4. Too
    • Use: To indicate more than what is desirable or acceptable.
    • Example: It’s too hot to go outside. (It’s excessively hot.)
  5. Absolutely
    • Use: To indicate a complete or total degree, often used with extreme adjectives.
    • Example: The performance was absolutely amazing. (The performance was completely amazing.)
  6. Quite
    • Use: To some extent; when used with gradable adjectives, it means moderately, but when used with extreme adjectives, it means completely.
    • Example: The exam was quite difficult. (moderately difficult) / The answer is quite correct. (completely correct)
  7. Extremely
    • Use: To emphasize a very high degree of something.
    • Example: She is extremely talented. (She is highly talented.)
  8. Fairly
    • Use: To a moderate degree, less strong than “very” or “really.”
    • Example: The book is fairly interesting. (The book is moderately interesting.)
  9. Totally
    • Use: To a complete degree, often used with extreme adjectives.
    • Example: I am totally exhausted. (I am completely exhausted.)
  10. Utterly
    • Use: To emphasize an extreme degree.
    • Example: The plan was utterly ridiculous. (The plan was completely ridiculous.)

Adverb Intensifiers:

 

Examples: very, extremely, quite, really, incredibly, too, so, too, exceedingly, utterly, almost, etc.

 

Position: Adverb intensifiers usually come before the adjective or adverb they modify.

Example:

  • He is very tall.
  • She runs extremely fast.
  • The movie was quite entertaining.

Adjective Intensifiers:

 

Examples: absolute, complete, total, sheer, pure, perfect, outright, real, etc.

 

Position: Adjective intensifiers are placed before the noun they modify.

Example:

  • It was an absolute disaster.
  • She gave a sheer performance.
  • The car is a total wreck.

Adverbial Phrase Intensifiers:

 

Examples: by far, without a doubt, to a great extent, more than anything, above all, etc.

 

Position: Adverbial phrase intensifiers can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence

Example:

  • By far, he is the best player on the team.
  • She loves ice cream more than anything.

Exercise 1: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using the given intensifiers.

  1. The weather is cold. (very)
  2. The food is good. (really)
  3. The test was easy. (quite)
  4. She is happy. (so)
  5. The plan is terrible. (absolutely)
  1. The weather is very cold.
  2. The food is really good.
  3. The test was quite easy.
  4. She is so happy.
  5. The plan is absolutely terrible.

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