INTENSIFIERS

-theory-

What is an intensifier?
 an intensifier is a word (usually an adverb) that strengthens or weakens
another word (usually the word immediately to its right).
 they are used to add force to the meaning of verbs, adjectives or other
adverbs.

Examples of intensifiers in sentences

VERY This pie is very tasty.
(the intensifier very strengthens the adjective tasty)
You play soccer very well.
QUITE She feels quite lonely.
(the intensifier quite weakens the adjective lonely).
It's quite calm here.
PRETTY He's pretty intelligent.
RATHER These students are rather noisy.
FAIRLY Jack is working fairly hard on the report.
(the intensifier fairly weakens the adverb hard).
It's fairly interesting.
REALLY Do you really mean it.
STRONGLY I strongly disagree.
INCREDIBLY Last week's test was incredibly easy.
INSANELY Last week's test was insanely easy.
EXTREMELY It's extremely hot in Africa.
ABSOLUTELY It's absolutely amazing.
TOO She writes poems too often.
A LITTLE I am a little angry with her.
A BIT He was talking a bit anxiously.
(the intensifier a bit weakens the adverb anxiously).
AT ALL Are there no suitable DVDs at all?
I’m afraid I’m not at all interested.
ON EARTH What on earth is he doing? (suggests disapproval)
EVER
Why did I ever invite them to stay with us? (suggests that
there were problems)
ENOUGH
If you are seventeen you are old enough to drive a car.
I can’t wear those shoes. They’re not big enough.
 Negative-sounding intensifiers
Negative-sounding words such as
awfully, dreadfully, insanely, and
terribly provide strength to the words
they govern.
Intensifiers with strong adjectives
Strong adjectives are words like:
we do not normally use VERY with
these adjectives.
we do NOT say something is "very
enormous" or someone is "very
brilliant".
with strong adjectives, we normally
use intensifiers like: really, quite,
absolutely, completely, totally,
utterly, exceptionally, particularly,
You look awfully pale.
I am dreadfully sorry.
That is an insanely clever plan.
The pressure is dropping terribly
quickly.
enormous, huge = very big
tiny = very small
brilliant = very clever
awful; terrible; disgusting;
dreadful = very bad
certain = very sure
excellent; perfect; ideal; wonderful;
splendid = very good
delicious = very tasty
The food smelled really disgusting
The film was absolutely awful.
He was an exceptionally
brilliant child.
 RATHER
to a slight degree (destul de, într-o oarecare măsură)
as an adverb I’m feeling rather tired.
(before an adjective or another adverb)
She’s been treated rather badly.

before a verb He rather enjoys telling other people

what to do.

as an answer word ‘Would you like to come for a ride?’

‘Rather!’

FAIRLY
more than average (cât se poate de, destul de)
Fairly generally modifies adjectives
How was the film? ~ Fairly good. Not
and adverbs.
the best one I've seen this year.
it does not suggest a very high degree: I speak Russian fairly well - enough
if you say that somebody is fairly nice for everyday purposes.
or fairly clever, for example, he or she
will not be very pleased.

QUITE
a little/a lot/completely
Quite has two meanings. It's quite good, but it could be better.
(= It's OK, not bad.)

It's quite impossible. (= It's completely

impossible.)

quite (especially in British English) How was the film? ~ Quite good. You
suggests a higher degree than fairly. ought to go.

It's quite a difficult book - I had

trouble with it.

when we use quite with a strong
adjective it means the same as
absolutely:
The food was quite awful. = The food
was absolutely awful.
As a child he was quite brilliant. = As
a child he was absolutely brilliant.
 PRETTY
quite but not extremely (destul de)
Pretty (informal) is like rather, but How's things? ~ Pretty good. You
only modifies adjectives and adverbs. OK?
You're driving pretty fast.

Mitigators with comparatives

we use these words and phrases as
mitigators: a bit - just a bit - a little -
a little bit - just a little bit - rather -
slightly
She’s a bit younger than I am.
It takes two hours on the train but it
is a little bit longer by road
This one is rather bigger (than the
other one).

Adjectives as intensifiers

we use some adjectives as intensifiers: He’s a complete idiot.

absolute, total, complete, utter,
perfect, real
They were talking utter nonsense.
… but we do not say:
The idiot was complete.
The nonsense they were talking was
utter.