intensifier
/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtensɪfaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)
intensifier — noun
- intensifiersingular
- intensifiersplural
1. a word, usually an adverb or adjective (such as 'very', 'really', or 'extremely'
a word, usually an adverb or adjective (such as 'very', 'really', or 'extremely'), that is placed before another word to make its meaning stronger or more emphatic.
When the thermometer hit forty-two degrees, Yu-jen wiped his forehead, muttering, "This is extremely hot."
intensifier + adjective phrase (extremely + hot)
The teacher asked the class to underline every intensifier in the short story.
After watching the documentary on coral reefs, Keiko told her brother, "The underwater footage was absolutely amazing."
Using too many intensifiers in a single essay can make the writing feel less natural.
Mei checked a grammar website to find a suitable intensifier for the adjective 'delicious.'
- amplifier
more technical term in linguistics; refers specifically to words that scale upwards (e.g. 'very'), whereas 'intensifier' can also cover emphasizers
- emphasizer
less common and less precise; sometimes used interchangeably but not standard in grammar teaching
- degree modifier
a broader category that includes both intensifiers (stronger) and downtoners (weaker); not specific to strengthening
- downtoner
a word that weakens rather than strengthens the meaning of another word, e.g. 'quite,' 'rather,' 'somewhat'
文法句型
intensifier + [adjective/adverb]
用法筆記
Common intensifiers include 'very,' 'really,' 'extremely,' 'absolutely,' 'totally,' 'so,' and 'quite.' Some intensifiers pair naturally with certain types of adjectives — for example, 'absolutely' is typical before extreme adjectives ('absolutely fantastic'), while 'very' works with gradable adjectives ('very good').