NAME:

ESL / EFL RESOURCES It's rather nice outside!

Intensifiers make words and expressions Mitigators make words and expressions
STRONGER. WEAKER.

extremely, particularly really very rather, quite fairly somewhat, a bit,

incredibly pretty kind of slightly

A. Rewrite each sentence, adding an intensifier to modify the underlined word.

Example: I'm from Canada. When I go outside in the winter, I dress warmly.
I'm from Canada. When I go outside in the winter, I dress really warmly.
...................................................................................................................................

1. In the summer, temperatures in Brazil can reach 40 degrees Celsius. It's hot.

...................................................................................................................................

2. The weather in the Netherlands in the spring is rainy. I always need an umbrella.

...................................................................................................................................

3. Autumn is my favourite season in the United States. I'm comfortable with just a light jacket.

...................................................................................................................................

4. In winter, the road conditions in England can be icy, especially in the morning.

...................................................................................................................................

B. Rewrite each sentence, adding a mitigator to modify the underlined word.

Example: I'm from Italy. When I go outside in the winter, it's cool, but not too cold.
I'm from Italy. When I go outside in the winter, it's fairly cool, but not too cold.
...................................................................................................................................

1. In Morocco, it can be chilly in the winter months.

...................................................................................................................................

2. It's cloudy in Scotland all year round.

...................................................................................................................................

3. The temperature today is low, but I feel comfortable in this warm sweater.

...................................................................................................................................

4. During November and December in Thailand, the climate can be mild.

...................................................................................................................................

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 INTENSIFIERS AND MITIGATORS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES It's rather nice outside!

C. Highlight an intensifier or mitigator and adjective to help complete each sentence

using your PDF software's highlighting tool. Then, finish the sentence with an
explanation.

extremely enjoyable
1. I think hot, sunny weather is really relaxing
somewhat unenjoyable

because .......................................................................................................................

incredibly pleasant
2. I think cold, snowy weather is rather delightful
quite unpleasant

because .......................................................................................................................

particularly nice
3. I think mild, cloudy weather is pretty boring
very unenjoyable

because .......................................................................................................................

slightly enjoyable
3. I think chilly, rainy weather is fairly gloomy
really depressing

because .......................................................................................................................

a bit exciting
5. I think stormy weather is quite depressing
very scary

because .......................................................................................................................

D. Read the text about a day spent at the beach and highlight the intensifiers and
mitigators.

Today, my mother, father, brother and I went to the beach. In

the morning, it was still slightly cool, so I wasn't quite ready
to get in the water. Instead, my brother and I began building a
sandcastle. It was really fun! Then, we walked along the beach
and searched for shells. I found this particularly enjoyable, but
my brother thought it was extremely boring. Around lunchtime,
it started to get very warm so we decided it was time for a swim.
Although the sun was hot, the water was pretty cold. I ran back up the beach to get my towel
and dry off in the sun. I was feeling rather lazy and decided to take a nap. My brother and I
started to feel a bit hungry, so we ate the sandwiches our father had made for the trip. By the
late afternoon, the whole family was incredibly exhausted from a long day in the sun. Finally,
we packed up our things and drove back home.

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.