Using intensifiers in English is essential because they add depth, intensity, and nuance to your language, helping you express your thoughts and feelings more efficiently. Intensifiers allow you to convey the degree or intensity of an action or a quality, making your communication more precise and engaging.
Intensifiers can help you convey emotions, highlight important points, and make a more definitive image for your audience. Using intensifiers can also improve your overall fluency and proficiency in English. By understanding how intensifiers work and practicing their usefulness, you can extend your vocabulary, enhance your grammar, and become more proficient at expressing yourself in various contexts. Learning to use intensifiers in English is vital. We prepared a post to help you understand identifiers.
What Are Intensifiers?
An adverb and an intensifier differ in their functions within a sentence. All intensifiers are adverbs, but not all adverbs obligatorily serve as intensifiers. Intensifiers are adverbs that adjust adjectives or other adverbs to increase or decrease their intensity and assertiveness.
Examples of intensifiers include words such as “very,” which can modify adjectives (very dark eyes) and adverbs (she sings very well). Other examples of intensifiers are “a little” in “the cat is a little hungry,” where it decreases the intensity of “hungry,” and “rather” in “the movie was rather interesting,” where it emphasizes “interesting.”
Common intensifiers include words and phrases like absolutely, completely, extremely, highly, really, so, too, totally, utterly, and at all. For instance, “She was so excited” and “I felt extremely grateful” both use intensifiers to strengthen the adjectives “excited” and “grateful.”
How to Use Intensifiers
Intensifiers enhance the meaning of adjectives and adverbs, adding emphasis or reducing intensity. They allow speakers to express themselves with greater precision or emotion. To make the most of intensifiers, it’s important to use them thoughtfully. Below are key points to consider when using intensifiers:
1. Position in a Sentence
Intensifiers are usually positioned directly before the adjective or adverb they modify, allowing them to enhance or diminish the degree of emphasis. Their placement is critical for maintaining the clarity and flow of a sentence. For example, in the sentence “She is incredibly talented,” the intensifier “incredibly” emphasizes the extent of “talented,” drawing the reader’s attention to the exceptional nature of the subject’s skills.
2. Match the Tone of the Context
It’s essential to select intensifiers that match the tone of the context. For formal writing or professional settings, more reserved intensifiers like “somewhat” or “moderately” work better than stronger ones like “totally” or “absolutely.” In casual conversations, however, stronger intensifiers can add emphasis and emotion.
3. Avoid Overusing Intensifiers
Overusing intensifiers can weaken the impact of your writing. For instance, a sentence like “It was very, very, incredibly cold” may come across as overly dramatic and redundant. Instead, choose a single, strong intensifier to convey your point effectively, such as “It was incredibly cold.”
4. Use Appropriate Intensifiers for the Context
Certain intensifiers are more suitable for specific adjectives. For example, “very” works well with moderate adjectives like “good,” but not with strong ones like “fantastic” or “enormous.” In such cases, use more powerful intensifiers like “absolutely” or “completely” to match the strength of the adjective.
5. Know the Difference Between Amplifiers and Downtoners
Amplifiers increase the intensity of a statement (e.g., “extremely,” “incredibly”), while downtoners reduce it (e.g., “slightly,” “somewhat”). Understanding the difference helps you communicate more precisely and ensures your message conveys the right level of emphasis.
Common Intensifiers
Here is a list of common intensifiers;
| Intensifier | Meaning |
| Absolutely | Completely, without doubt |
| Abundantly | In large quantities |
| Astonishingly | Surprisingly, amazingly |
| Awfully | Very, extremely |
| Entirely | Completely, fully |
| Exceedingly | To a great extent |
| Exceptionally | Unusually, remarkably |
| Extraordinarily | Remarkable manner |
| Extremely | To a great degree |
| Fully | Entirely, completely |
| Incredibly | Astonishingly, unbelievably |
| Insanely | Very, extremely |
| Intensely | With strong feelings |
| Perfectly | Without any flaws |
| Positively | With certainty |
| Profoundly | Deeply, extremely |
| Quite | Very, fairly |
| Really | Very, truly |
| Remarkably | Noticeably, exceptionally |
| Significantly | In an important or notable way |
| Surprisingly | In an unexpected manner |
| Thoroughly | Completely, fully |
| Totally | Completely, absolutely |
| Tremendously | Very greatly, extremely |
| Truly | Really, genuinely |
| Unbelievably | In an extraordinary manner |
| Unmistakably | Clearly, without any doubt |
| Unquestionably | Beyond doubt, certainly |
| Utterly | Completely, absolutely |
| Very | To a high degree, extremely |
Intensifiers in Different Contexts (Formal-Informal) (Spoken- Written)
Intensifiers can vary in usage depending on the context, whether it’s formal or informal or spoken or written. Here are examples of how intensifiers might differ in different contexts:
Formal Spoken:
Very: “The results are very promising.”
Extremely: “The situation has become extremely complicated.”
Remarkably: “Her achievements in science are remarkably outstanding.”
Informal Spoken:
Really: “My birthday party was really good.”
Totally: “I’m totally exhausted from the long driving time.”
Crazy: “That dinner was crazy good!”
Formal Written:
Extremely: “The investigation findings are extremely important.”
Incredibly: “The group of students demonstrated an incredibly impressive level of dedication to the class project.”
Profoundly: “The impact of the new headmaster is profoundly influential.”
Informal Written:
Very: “The night was very fun!”
Absolutely: “I’m absolutely thrilled about the books!”
Totally: “I totally agree with your topic.”
More nuanced intensifiers, such as “extremely,” “incredibly,” or “profoundly,” are sometimes favored in formal circumstances, particularly in written communication. In casual settings, both spoken and written, simpler intensifiers like “very,” “really,” and “totally” are more common and appropriate.
Choosing the Right Intensifier
While choosing the correct intensifier, consider the context and the level of formality of your sentence. Here is a guide to help you select the right intensifier.
First, you need to consider the context. Does it contain an informal tone, or is it written for more sophisticated occasions? Then, determine the level of intensity, which will decide the clarity of your text.
If you want to emphasize a high level of intensity, you can choose words such as “extremely” or “absolutely.” On the other hand, you can select “somewhat” or “slightly” for more subtle sentences. The precision of meaning is important, so ensure your intensifier accurately reflects the degree you intended to convey. Knowing your audience and their language preference is essential as well.
Examples
-She was absolutely thrilled with the news you told her.
-The garden was abundantly filled with colorful flowers and beautiful smells.
-His recovery from the accident was astonishingly fast.
-The weather was awfully hot during the summer, I felt like I was melting!
-The decision was entirely up to your father.
-She was exceedingly grateful for their support.
-She performed exceptionally well in the test.
-The dress from the top of the shelf was extraordinarily beautiful.
-The temperature outside was extremely cold.
-He was fully aware of the results of his decision.
-The news was incredibly shocking.
-The prices at the new store were insanely high.
-The argument between the two associates became intensely heated.
-The dinner turned out perfectly delicious.
-She was positively thrilled with the outcome.
-The loss affected him profoundly.
-The movie was quite dull.
-She was really excited about her wedding.
-His progress in learning English was remarkably fast.
-The new procedure had a significantly negative impact.
-The team performed surprisingly well during the competition.
-She studied the essay thoroughly before making any corrections.
-I totally understand your point of view.
-The news of her promotion was tremendously exciting.
-She truly believed in his sincerity.
-The news was unbelievably shocking.
-The footprints were unmistakably those of a giant creature.
-His dedication to the project was unquestionably respected by his colleagues.
-The room was utterly still after the announcement.
-The dress was very elegant and stylish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using Intensifiers in English
When should you use intensifiers?
Use intensifiers to emphasize or intensify adjectives or adverbs.
Can I use any intensifier with any word?
No, select an intensifier that appropriately conveys the intended message and level of emphasis.
Should I avoid using specific intensifiers in formal writing?
Yes, avoid common intensifiers and instead use sophisticated ones such as “extremely” or “remarkably.”
How can I improve my use of intensifiers?
Experiment with intensifiers in various settings and increase your vocabulary to have more alternatives.
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