Intensifying adverbs

Intensifying Adverbs

Intensifying Adverbs

In English we can use very or very much in different ways using words like highly, utterly, bitterly, deeply. All this words collocate with other specific words and other combinations sound unnatural.

• Highly: likely, unlikely, unusual, successful, competitive, profitable, effective, controversial, recommended. (It’s used with some probability words –likely, unusual).With the exception of highly controversial, it usually combines with very positive words. Extremely can also be used with all the opposite adjectives except recommended)

• Absolutely/Utterly: ridiculous, stupid, impossible, wrong, alone appalled, convinced, devastated, miserable. (Absolutely and utterly –slightly formal- combine with adjectives with very extreme meanings where very can’t used . We say absolutely or utterly exhausted but not very exhausted, whereas we say very tired but not absolutely or utterly tired. Often, but not always there words that have negative connotations) • Bitterly: disappointing/disappointed, resent, criticize, regret, complain, cry, weep (carries a feeling of deep sadness, used slightly more in writing than in conversation)

• Deeply: ashamed, concerned, shocked, committed, moved, affected, hurt (feelings), regret, care, religious, unhappy. (collocates mainly with words associated to feelings, used slightly more in writing than in conversation) • Ridiculously: cheap, expensive, easy, low, high, long, short, small, large, early. (suggests something extreme, which seems unbelievable or unreasonable) • Strongly: oppose, influence, believe, deny, recommend, support, condemn, suggest, feel, argue, object. (collocates with verbs particularly those that relate to having an opinion.