INTENSIFIERS
Intensifiers make nouns, adjectives or adverbs intense. What do we mean by that? To make
something intense means to make it more strongly felt.
If it is a noun, you can use adjectives to describe it to be able to strongly identify it. For
example, Esther is a beautiful lady. Beautiful is the intensifier, and it is an adjective.
Sometimes, you may also want to make an adjective more intense. If so, then the needed
intensifier would be an adverb.
For example, Esther is a very beautiful lady. Here, although beautiful in itself is an
intensifier, we cannot ignore the intensive work that the word very is doing, can we? I am
sure you agree with me. So, very is an intensifier here, and it is an adverb.
So basically, when we talk of intensifiers, they may either be adjectives or adverbs.
Let’s look at some common intensifiers.
1. Too and Very
Too means beyond the proper limit. So, before we can use too, there must be an idea of a
limit in the sentence.
Examples;
1. Esi was too busy to come here.
2. Anowa was too string for her opponent.
Do not confuse Too with Very. With very, there is no idea of a limit, but with too, there
should. We see the limit in the use of too...to and too...for. For example;
1. It is very cold today. (We use very cold but not too cold because there is no idea of a
limit in the sentence)
2. It is too hot to walk out. (We use too hot and not very hot because there is an idea of a
limit)
2. Very much, Too much, Much too
Very much means greatly or to a largely appropriate extent. It does not mean extremely. With
extremely, it means there is a limit that has been crossed.
1. I am very much thankful to you. (greatly thankful)
2. I am very much sorry. (greatly sorry)
Too much and Much too mean extremely—that is, a limit has been crossed. We use too much
to qualify nouns, but we use much too for adjectives.
1. Hogan gave you too much money. (Money is a noun)
2. The food is much too hot. (Hot is an adjective)
3. Enough
Enough is the opposite of too. Enough means sufficient, the limit has not been exceeded. So,
too actually means more than enough. I hope you can see that. Enough as an adverb comes
after the adjective it intensifies.
1. The pen is good enough for me. (good is the adjective and enough, the adverb)
2. We should be kind enough to help them. (kind is the adjective and enough, the
adverb)
4. Fairly, Rather, Somewhat
They all mean moderately, or not to the highest point, or not to the extent that we may like.
They are usually used with adjectives.
Fairly is however positive, or we can say it means we approve of it. On the other hand, rather
and somewhat are negative, or show that it is not suitable.
1. The work was fairly easy. (So it was suitable)
2. Your house is rather/somewhat small. (Not very suitable)
Try these
1. The bag was ......heavy for us to lift.
A very B. So C. Quite D. Too
2. The minister was .......hasty in his decision to resign.
A enough B. Somewhat C. So D. Much
3. My teacher was .......annoyed with me for coming late.
A such B. Just C. Very D. Too
4. Comfort is .........young to prepare food for herself.
A too B. Extremely C. Very D. Too much
5. Carrying all those books will be ............trouble for you.
A Quite much B. Rather so much C. Too very much D. Rather too much
6. Ayishetu did nit marry Bukari because she thought he was .........for her.
A old enough B. Quite old C. Very old D. Far too old
7. Although his work is........good, he can still improve.
A. Rather B. Fairly C. Very D. So