Intensifiers and emphasis

Rules

• Rule 1: Strengthening negatives

  no + noun + whatsoever, not … at all, not in the least / in the slightest, by no means (with a positive verb), not a single + noun. The any versions need a negative verb: not by any means, not anywhere near.

  Pattern: no + noun + whatsoever · not … at all · by no means

  Example: I'm not in the least worried.

  Example: There was not a single car on the road.

• Rule 2: Comparatives and the very

  Comparatives are strengthened by much / far / a lot / even (not ~~very better~~!). Superlatives are strengthened by by far or the very. much too / far too + adjective = excessively.

  Pattern: much / far / even + comparative · by far / the very + superlative

  Example: My new bike is much faster.

  Example: It was the very best day of my life.

• Rule 3: so and such

  so + adjective / adverb / many / much. such + (adjective) + noun; with a singular countable noun, such a. Both can take a that result clause.

  Pattern: so + adjective (+ that) · such (a) + adjective + noun (+ that)

  Example: The test was so long that I didn't finish.

  Example: It was such a long test that I didn't finish.

• Rule 4: very or absolutely?

  Gradable adjectives (tired, cold, good) take very / fairly / a bit. Extreme adjectives (freezing, amazing, terrible, exhausted) take absolutely / completely / utterly. With absolute words, quite means *completely* (quite sure).

  Pattern: very + gradable adjective · absolutely + extreme adjective

  Example: It's very cold today.

  Example: It's absolutely freezing today!

Common mistakes

• My room is very bigger than yours. → My room is much bigger than yours.

  very can't go before a comparative.

• It was so a good movie. → It was such a good movie.

  Before a + adjective + noun, use such.

• The lake was very freezing. → The lake was absolutely freezing.

  Extreme adjectives take absolutely.