00 / Adjectives & Adverbs
Intensifiers
Intensifiers are adverbs used to add strength or emphasis to adjectives. They help express strong feelings or extreme qualities in a more precise way.
B1Intermediate
01 / Overview
Intensifiers like absolutely, completely, and utterly are used to emphasize non-gradable (extreme) adjectives. While words like 'very' work with standard adjectives, these specific intensifiers suggest a total or maximum state.
- Use them to show that something is 100% true.
- They often express strong emotions or reactions.
- They are common in both spoken and written English to add impact.
02 / Gradable vs. Non-gradable
You cannot usually use 'very' with extreme adjectives like 'brilliant' or 'exhausted'. Instead, use intensifiers like absolutely.
| Adjective Type | Intensifier | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gradable (Standard) | very / really | very cold |
| Non-gradable (Extreme) | absolutely / utterly | absolutely freezing |
03 / Examples
04 / Common mistakes
The food was very delicious.
The food was absolutely delicious.
'Delicious' is an extreme adjective, so it requires an intensifier like 'absolutely' rather than 'very'.
I am utterly tired.
I am utterly exhausted.
'Utterly' is typically used with extreme or negative adjectives, not standard ones like 'tired'.
05 / Practice
The news was ______ (absolutely / very) shocking to everyone in the office.
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Answer: absolutely
Why: 'Shocking' is an extreme adjective, so 'absolutely' is the correct intensifier.
I forgot my keys; I am ______ (completely / very) certain I left them on the table.
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Answer: completely
Why: 'Certain' is a non-gradable adjective meaning 100% sure, so it pairs with 'completely'.
The landscape was ______ (utterly / really) beautiful.
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Answer: utterly
Why: While 'really' is possible in casual speech, 'utterly' provides the strong emphasis required for an extreme quality.