Intensifying Adverbs

Intensifying adverbs are words that strengthen or weaken the meaning of an adjective, another adverb, or sometimes a verb. At P5 you learnt the core intensifiers -- very, extremely, absolutely, utterly, and totally. Now you will explore a wider range of intensifiers, learn how to choose the most appropriate one for each context, and understand why overusing intensifiers weakens your writing.

What You'll Learn

• How to use a wider range of intensifiers beyond the basic set: remarkably, exceptionally, thoroughly, entirely, deeply, highly, greatly, immensely, and considerably
• How to choose the right intensifier for the right adjective or verb (collocations)
• How to recognise and avoid the overuse of intensifiers in your writing
• How intensifiers affect register and tone -- choosing formal vs informal intensifiers

When to Use

1. Strengthening a description in formal writing: "The committee was deeply concerned about the environmental impact of the new development."
2. Emphasising an exceptional quality: "Her performance in the national examinations was remarkably consistent across all subjects."
3. Intensifying a verb to show strong feeling: "We greatly appreciate the volunteers' efforts at the community centre."
4. Indicating completeness or totality: "The old kampong houses were entirely demolished to make way for the new HDB estate."
5. Adjusting the strength of a statement for precision: "The results were considerably better than what we had expected." -- "considerably" is more measured than "much" or "far".

How to Form

Intensifier Strength Scale

Intensifying adverbs range from mild to extreme. Choosing the right level of intensity makes your writing more precise.

Common Collocations (Intensifier + Adjective/Verb)

Certain intensifiers pair naturally with certain words. Using the wrong combination sounds unnatural.

Intensifiers with Gradable vs Non-Gradable Adjectives

This distinction is crucial for choosing the correct intensifier.

Examples:

• Gradable: "The examination was extremely difficult." (not "absolutely difficult")
• Non-gradable: "His answer was absolutely perfect." (not "very perfect")

Key Rules

1. Match the intensifier to the adjective type: Use very, extremely, highly, and remarkably with gradable adjectives. Use absolutely, utterly, completely, and entirely with non-gradable (extreme or absolute) adjectives. "Very exhausted" is incorrect because "exhausted" is already extreme -- say "absolutely exhausted" instead.

2. Respect collocations: Certain intensifiers have fixed partnerships with specific adjectives and verbs. We say "deeply concerned" and "highly unlikely", not "deeply unlikely" or "highly concerned". When unsure, think about which combination you have read or heard before.

3. Avoid stacking intensifiers: Using two or more intensifiers together weakens your writing and sounds unnatural. "The food was really very extremely delicious" is excessive. Choose the single strongest word that fits: "The food was absolutely delicious."

4. Avoid overusing intensifiers: If every sentence contains "very", "really", or "extremely", none of them stand out. Reserve intensifiers for moments when emphasis genuinely matters. Compare: "The story was very interesting and the characters were very believable" with "The story was captivating and the characters were believable" -- the second version is stronger because it uses a precise adjective instead of relying on an intensifier.

5. Choose the right register: Some intensifiers are more formal than others. In compositions and formal writing, prefer remarkably, exceptionally, considerably, and highly. In casual speech, really, so, and totally are common but should be avoided in formal writing.

6. "Utterly" and "completely" signal totality: These intensifiers mean "in every way" or "100%". They pair with adjectives that describe an absolute state: utterly devastated, completely destroyed, utterly ridiculous, completely silent. Do not use them with mild adjectives -- "utterly warm" sounds wrong because "warm" is not an absolute state.

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Formal intensifiers (use in compositions and examinations)

remarkably, exceptionally, extraordinarily, considerably, immensely, profoundly, greatly, thoroughly, highly, deeply

Everyday intensifiers (common but avoid overuse in writing)

very, really, so, pretty, quite, rather, fairly

Totality intensifiers (for non-gradable adjectives only)

absolutely, utterly, completely, entirely, totally, thoroughly

Collocations to memorise

deeply concerned, highly recommended, greatly appreciated, thoroughly enjoyed, remarkably well, entirely different, considerably better, immensely popular, exceptionally talented

Tip: When you catch yourself writing "very + adjective", ask: "Is there a single, stronger adjective I could use instead?" For example, "very tired" becomes "exhausted", "very big" becomes "enormous", and "very cold" becomes "freezing". This strategy reduces intensifier overuse and makes your writing more vivid.

Practice Tips

1. The replacement test: Whenever you write "very" or "really", pause and try two alternatives -- (a) a stronger single adjective ("very angry" becomes "furious") or (b) a more precise intensifier ("really important" becomes "critically important" or "highly significant"). Choose whichever sounds more natural.

2. Gradable or non-gradable?: Before adding an intensifier, ask: "Can this adjective have degrees?" If you can say "a bit tired" and "extremely tired", the adjective is gradable -- use "very", "extremely", or "remarkably". If the adjective already means an extreme (e.g., "perfect", "impossible", "devastated"), it is non-gradable -- use "absolutely", "utterly", or "completely".

3. The overuse scan: After finishing a paragraph, highlight every intensifier. If more than one-third of your sentences contain an intensifier, remove the weakest ones. Your remaining intensifiers will carry more impact.

4. Collocation journal: Keep a list of intensifier + word pairings that you encounter in your reading. Group them by intensifier (e.g., all "deeply" combinations together). Over time, the correct pairings will feel natural when you write.

Quick Reference

Intensifier Selection Guide

Common "Very + Adjective" Replacements