Intensifiers

Exercises

Explanation

Common intensifiers include: very, really, extremely, so, absolutely, totally, completely

1. What do intensifiers do?

An intensifier makes the meaning of another word stronger or more powerful.

• The soup is warm.

• The soup is really warm. → stronger meaning

Intensifiers are usually placed before the adjective or adverb they modify.

Examples:

• The lecture was very interesting.

• She felt extremely tired after the trip.

• This pasta tastes so fresh.

• He spoke really quickly during the meeting.

2. Types of intensifiers

Not all intensifiers express the same level of strength. Some show strong, intense emotion, while others are more neutral.

A. Strong intensifiers

These express powerful feelings or strong emphasis:

• absolutely

• completely

• totally

• utterly

Examples:

• I was absolutely amazed by the performance.

• She felt completely calm after the yoga class.

• They were totally certain about their choice.

• The sky looked utterly beautiful at sunset.

B. Neutral intensifiers

These are more common and can be used in everyday descriptions:

• very

• really

• so

• quite

Examples:

• The café is very popular.

• It was really sunny this afternoon.

• The room felt so warm when we walked in.

• The explanation was quite clear.

3. When should we use intensifiers?

Intensifiers are helpful in many situations:

• casual conversation

• storytelling and descriptions

• expressing strong emotions

• giving opinions or reactions

However, it’s important not to overuse them. Too many intensifiers can make your speech sound exaggerated or unnatural.

Incorrect: The book was really very extremely exciting.
Correct: The book was extremely exciting.

4. Common mistakes

A. Using too many intensifiers

Incorrect: She is very very very angry.
Correct: She is extremely angry.

B. Using the wrong intensifier

Some intensifiers only work with certain adjectives.

Incorrect: completely nice
Correct: completely full
Correct: completely wrong

Choose an intensifier that naturally fits with the adjective.

5. New example sentences

• The mountains looked incredibly impressive in the morning light.

• His explanation was highly effective.

• The artwork was unbelievably detailed.

• She felt deeply grateful for the support.

• The concert tickets were ridiculously expensive.

Quick Tips

• Use intensifiers to add emotion or emphasis.

• Avoid adding too many in one sentence.

• Place them before the adjective or adverb.

• Select an intensifier that matches the meaning of the word.