Modifiers and Intensifiers

Intensifiers

October 2nd

Intensifiers are words like very, really, totally, extremely. They have little meaning themselves but they are used to add force to another adjective, verb, or adverb.

In the phrase 'an extremely large man' and 'I totally disagree', 'extremely' and 'totally' are both intensifiers.

You're a really good listener.

Everyone was extremely bored.

He's singing very well.

Strong adjectives

We do not use very with strong adjectives. We do not say something is 'very delicious' or someone is 'very brilliant'.

Strong adjectives are words like

awful, terrible = very bad

gorgeous = very beautiful

brilliant = very clever

delicious = very tasty

enormous, huge = very big

perfect, wonderful, splendid, fantastic = very good

tiny = very small

With strong adjectives, we can use intensifiers like:

absolutely / amazingly / breathtakingly /completely / dangerously / extremely / highly / seriously / totally / truly /unusually

The film was absolutely awful.

She was an amazingly brilliant child.

We were completely exhausted.

Multiple Choice

Some motorists are driving ... fast on these narrow mountain roads.

• absolutely

• breathtakingly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Multiple Choice

Among the other exhibits there were some ... beautiful crown jewels.

• absolutely

• breathtakingly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Multiple Choice

Although Fred was ... ill, he managed to stay positive and enjoy life.

• absolutely

• breathtakingly

• seriously

• truly

• highly

Multiple Choice

Don't worry. It's ... unlikely that the girls will be late.

• absolutely

• breathtakingly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Multiple Choice

Are you hungry, Ben? - Hungry? Well, I'm ... starving.

• absolutely

• breathtakingly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Multiple Choice

Listen, I'm ... sorry that I ruined your weekend plans.

• absolutely

• truly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Multiple Choice

The author's first book follows the daily habits of ... successful people.

• absolutely

• truly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Multiple Choice

Sheila says she's the best tennis player in the world. I don't understand why someone would want to be so ... arrogant.

• breathtakingly

• truly

• seriously

• dangerously

• highly

Open Ended

Write six sentence using each of these phrases once:

seriously damaged / highly educated / absolutely spectacular / extremely small / totally awful / drop-dead gorgeous