INTENSIFIERS

What are intensifiers?

In English grammar, an intensifier is a word that modifies - increases or decreases - the meaning or effect of another word. Intensifiers are used to boost, emphasise or add force to the meaning of another word. The other word can be a noun, verb, adjective or adverb.

Intensifiers can often be both positive and negative. For example: That boy is remarkably intelligent/That boy is remarkably stupid. Also, some intensifiers can have the same meaning. For example, rapidly and quickly.

The list of intensifiers is very long. However, some commonly-used intensifiers are too, much, so, slowly, enough, really, terribly, strongly, little, fairly and extremely.

Here are examples of intensifiers in use:

• I strongly disagree.
• It’s extremely hot in Africa.
• You play soccer very well.
• Do you really mean it?
• It’s fairly interesting
• It’s so exciting.
• It’s quite calm here.
• He’s pretty intelligent.
• These students are rather noisy.
• I so wanted to buy that dress.
• It’s absolutely amazing.
• I am a little angry with her.
• That dress is too expensive