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GRAMMAR |
INTENSIFYING THE ATTRIBUTE
Intensification is a kind of grading and will be classified here in three levels:
High
Medium
Attenuated
The intended degree of intensification can be reinforced by the intonation patterns.
HIGH INTENSIFICATION
They are classified by their intensity using adverbs, adjectives or even some nouns. These are some examples:
The
very
latest technology.
A
really
good movie.
An
awfully
nice animal.
A
most
extraordinary job
I am
way
concerned about it.
Some intensifiers are common to express high instensification.
- dripping wet
- blind drink
- dead straight
- wide awake
- supremely confident
- frozen stiff
- stinking rich
- raving mad
- highly controversial
- eminently suitable
MEDIUM INTENSIFICATION
It is expressed by the four adverbs:
It is
quite
cold here in the fall.
It is
rather
cold here in the fall.
It is
pretty
cold here in the fall.
It is
fairly
cold here in the fall
Denotes moderate intensification of the adjective. Politeness is often the motivation of its use.
It can lower the force of a statement by indicating a certain limited degree. Also, it implies that a larger degree is to be understood
It expresses the notion of quite but nor completely. It also has an approximate value characteristic of informal speech
It indicates an almost large degree of a quality. Use it with favorable and neutral adjectives.