intensifier
/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtensɪfaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)
intensifier — 名詞
- intensifiersingular
- intensifiersplural
1. a word, usually an adverb or adjective (such as 'very', 'really', or 'extremely'
強調詞
加強語氣的詞
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."
溫度計升到四十二度時，Yu-jen 擦了擦額頭低聲說：「這實在是太熱了。」
intensifier + adjective phrase (extremely + hot)
The teacher asked the class to underline every intensifier in the short story.
老師要求全班同學在短文中標出每一個強調詞。
After watching the documentary on coral reefs, Keiko told her brother, "The underwater footage was absolutely amazing."
看完珊瑚礁的生態紀錄片後，Keiko 對哥哥說：「水下的畫面真的太驚人了。」
Using too many intensifiers in a single essay can make the writing feel less natural.
在一篇文章中使用太多強調詞，會讓文字顯得不夠自然。
Mei checked a grammar website to find a suitable intensifier for the adjective 'delicious.'
Mei 上了一個文法網站，想找一個適合形容詞 delicious 的強調詞。
- 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').