Intensifiers

Definition

Intensifiers are adverbs that enhance or strengthen the meaning of adjectives or other adverbs, often indicating a greater degree or intensity. They play a significant role in modifying and emphasizing the qualities described by the words they modify, making language more expressive and vivid.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Common examples of intensifiers include words like 'very', 'extremely', 'really', and 'quite'.
2. Intensifiers can change the tone of a sentence, making it more emphatic or dramatic depending on their use.
3. While intensifiers add emphasis, overusing them can lead to redundancy and weaken the overall impact of the statement.
4. In Old English, intensifiers often appeared in specific constructions and were sometimes combined with other linguistic elements for added emphasis.
5. The position of an intensifier within a sentence can affect its meaning; for example, placing it before or after an adjective can create different nuances.

Review Questions

• How do intensifiers function within a sentence to modify adjectives and adverbs?
  • Intensifiers function as modifiers that enhance the meaning of adjectives and other adverbs by indicating a greater degree or intensity. For example, in the phrase 'very tall,' the intensifier 'very' elevates the quality of 'tall', making it more descriptive. By adding such modifiers, writers can convey stronger emotions or create more vivid imagery, allowing for more expressive language.
• Discuss the potential impact of overusing intensifiers on writing style and clarity.
  • Overusing intensifiers can dilute the effectiveness of writing by creating redundancy and making sentences feel cluttered. When every adjective is modified by an intensifier, it can overwhelm readers and lessen the impact of key ideas. Therefore, using intensifiers judiciously is important to maintain clarity and ensure that the intended emphasis resonates without overwhelming the core message.
• Evaluate how the use of intensifiers in Old English differs from contemporary English and what this reveals about language evolution.
  • In Old English, the use of intensifiers was often more structural and could involve specific combinations with other linguistic elements that are less common today. This difference reflects how language evolves over time in response to changes in communication styles and cultural contexts. For instance, modern English tends to favor simpler constructions with standalone intensifiers like 'really' or 'very', showing a shift towards more straightforward expressions of intensity. Such evolution highlights both linguistic simplification and adaptation to contemporary needs for expressiveness in communication.

Related terms

Adverb: A word that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often indicating manner, place, time, or degree.

Comparative: A form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two items, typically ending in '-er' or using 'more' before the adjective or adverb.

Superlative: A form of an adjective or adverb that expresses the highest degree of comparison, usually formed by adding '-est' or using 'most' before the adjective or adverb.