Intensifiers

INTENSIFIERS

I n d e x

Meaning

Rank

Quite

Too

Very

Pretty

An intensifier is a word that strengthens or weakens another word (usually the word immediately to its right). An intensifier has no real meaning by itself and can usually be removed from the sentence. Intensifiers are adverbs. The sole purpose of an intensifier is to tell us about the intensity of another word.

Examples

Kind of Very Not Very Quite A bit Really Extremely Pretty Not at all Sort of

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01 Quite

When quite is placed in front of an adjective or adverb, it adds strength, but not as much strength as really or very. One way to think of quite is that it tells you that the degree of intensity is noticeable and more than expected. ■ It is used to emphasise something to a lesser degree. It adds a level of emphasis similar to the words rather or fairly.

Examples

■ Our income at the moment is quite good. The income is good, but not amazing or outstanding. ■ Tornados are quite common in this area. (Tornados are noticeably common, more common than you might expect.)

02 Very

The intensifier very can be placed before adjectives and adverbs to add a greater degree of emphasis. It is one of the most commonly used intensifiers in English. ■ Read the examples below, particularly how they make the adjectives in the sentence stronger.

Examples: ■ This product is very successful. ■ Our customer is very content. ■ That is a very compelling argument ■ I‘m very pleased to see you.

03 Pretty

The intensifier pretty can be used to add emphasis in a similar way to quite and very.■ This intensifier is used in a more informal context. ■ It adds emphasis to a similar degree as quite. ■ Used as a modifier, it means almost.

Examples: ■ I got to work pretty early this morning. ■ It was a pretty interesting report. ■ James is a pretty funny guy. ■ I‘m pretty sure we have met before. Remember to only use pretty in an informal context.

04 Too much - too many

Use the intensifier too to show a negative opinion or mean ‘a lot of something’. Examples:

• I eat too much.
• It’s too windy outside.
• I am too scared.
• There are too many people in this conference.

+ info

ACTIVITY 3Copy the next excercise and choose T for True or F for False

TRUE FALSE

1. Pretty is an intensifier that is only used for informal situations.

2. It is quite hot means that it is extremely hot..

3. Intensifiers are generally placed after the adjective or adverb they modify.

4. Very is one of the most common intensifiers in English.

5. Quite is a good intensifier to use in formal situations.

6. Too much is only used with countable nouns.

ACTIVITY 4

Copy in your notebook the Intensifiers quiz : pick the best answer.

1. There are _______________ applicants for th is job. a. too b. too many c. very much d. too much

2. I’m sorry I can’t drive! I have had _______________ to drink! a. very much b. too many c. so many d. too much

3. You are talking to your employer about your weekend. You want to emphasise that it was relaxing, but not overly so. What would be the best choice of the intensifiers below?a. quite relaxing b. too relaxing c. pretty relaxing d. very relaxing

4. The intensifier too can be given even more emphasis by preceding it with the word…a. very much b. too many c. so many d. too much