Intensifiers are a fascinating aspect of the English language that can add significant emotional or emphatic impact to your sentences. They are used to strengthen the meaning of the words they modify, and understanding their proper usage can greatly enhance your communication skills. Whether you’re expressing joy, frustration, excitement, or disappointment, knowing how to use intensifiers correctly will allow you to convey your thoughts more precisely and vividly.
What Are Intensifiers?
Intensifiers are adverbs or adverbial phrases that amplify the meaning of adjectives or other adverbs. They don’t change the basic meaning of the words they modify but rather increase the degree or intensity of that meaning. Common examples of intensifiers include words like very, extremely, so, really, and absolutely.
For example:
– “She is very happy.”
– “The movie was extremely interesting.”
– “I am so tired.”
Common Intensifiers and Their Usage
Very
The word very is perhaps the most commonly used intensifier in English. It is used to emphasize the degree of an adjective or another adverb. For example:
– “She is very intelligent.”
– “The soup is very hot.”
– “He runs very quickly.”
Really
Really is another frequently used intensifier. It can be used interchangeably with very in many cases, but it often carries a slightly stronger emphasis. For example:
– “I’m really tired.”
– “This cake is really delicious.”
– “She can sing really well.”
Extremely
Extremely is used to indicate a very high degree of something, often more intense than very or really. For example:
– “The weather is extremely cold.”
– “He was extremely rude.”
– “This problem is extremely complicated.”
So
The word so is versatile and can be used as an intensifier in various contexts. It is often used in informal speech to convey strong emotions or reactions. For example:
– “I am so excited about the trip!”
– “That was so funny!”
– “She is so kind.”
Absolutely
Absolutely is a strong intensifier that conveys a sense of totality or completeness. It is often used with adjectives that are not usually graded, such as unique, perfect, or impossible. For example:
– “This solution is absolutely perfect.”
– “The movie was absolutely amazing.”
– “It’s absolutely impossible to do that.”
Intensifiers in Negative Sentences
Intensifiers can also be used in negative sentences to emphasize the degree of something undesirable or negative. For example:
– “I am not at all satisfied with the service.”
– “She is not very happy with her job.”
– “The weather is not particularly nice today.”
Gradable and Non-gradable Adjectives
To use intensifiers effectively, it’s important to understand the difference between gradable and non-gradable adjectives.
Gradable Adjectives
Gradable adjectives describe qualities that can vary in intensity or degree. For example, hot, tired, and happy are gradable because something can be more or less hot, tired, or happy. Common intensifiers for gradable adjectives include very, really, and extremely.
Examples:
– “The water is very hot.”
– “She is really tired.”
– “The movie was extremely interesting.”
Non-gradable Adjectives
Non-gradable adjectives describe qualities that are absolute and cannot vary in intensity. For example, dead, perfect, and unique are non-gradable because something cannot be more or less dead, perfect, or unique. Common intensifiers for non-gradable adjectives include absolutely, totally, and completely.
Examples:
– “The design is absolutely perfect.”
– “The concept is totally unique.”
– “The experiment was completely successful.”
Intensifiers with Comparatives and Superlatives
Intensifiers can also be used with comparative and superlative forms of adjectives to add emphasis.
Comparatives
When using comparatives, intensifiers like much, far, and a lot are commonly used to emphasize the difference between two things.
Examples:
– “She is much taller than her brother.”
– “This book is far better than the last one.”
– “He is a lot more experienced than I am.”
Superlatives
With superlatives, intensifiers like by far and easily can be used to emphasize the highest degree of a quality among a group.
Examples:
– “She is by far the best player on the team.”
– “This is easily the most interesting topic we’ve covered.”
Common Mistakes with Intensifiers
Even though intensifiers are relatively straightforward, there are some common mistakes that language learners should be aware of.
Overuse of Intensifiers
One common mistake is the overuse of intensifiers. While they can add emphasis, using them too frequently can make your speech or writing sound exaggerated or insincere. It’s important to use intensifiers judiciously to maintain their impact.
Example of overuse:
– “The movie was really really good. I really liked it because it was really interesting and really well-made.”
Using the Wrong Intensifier
Another common mistake is using the wrong intensifier with non-gradable adjectives. For example, saying “very perfect” or “really unique” is incorrect because perfect and unique are non-gradable adjectives. The correct usage would be “absolutely perfect” or “totally unique.”
Practice Exercises
To help you master the use of intensifiers, here are a few practice exercises.
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Intensifier
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate intensifier (very, really, extremely, absolutely).
1. The test was __________ difficult.
2. She is __________ excited about the event.
3. The food was __________ delicious.
4. The situation is __________ impossible.
5. He was __________ rude to the waiter.
Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes
Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.
1. The movie was very amazing.
2. She is really unique.
3. The weather is really really hot today.
4. This book is by far the more interesting.
5. He is a lot taller than anyone else.
Exercise 3: Create Sentences
Create your own sentences using the following intensifiers: very, really, extremely, so, absolutely.
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________
Conclusion
Intensifiers are powerful tools in the English language that can help you convey your thoughts and emotions more vividly. By understanding their usage and practicing with different types of adjectives and sentence structures, you can enhance your communication skills significantly. Remember to use intensifiers appropriately and sparingly to maintain their impact and avoid common mistakes. With practice, you’ll be able to express yourself with greater clarity and emphasis, making your language both compelling and effective.
