Intensifiers

Intensifiers are adverbs, which are used with gradable adjectives and adverbs and, in some cases, with verbs. While an adverb of degree normally weakens or limits the meaning of the word it modifies, an intensifier normally strengthens the meaning: Your answer is good. Your answer is very good. (Intensifier: meaning strengthened) Your answer is quite good. (Adverb of degree: meaning weakened.)

Very. It is used before: adjectives: They are very ill. Adjective + noun: He is not a very nice person. Adverbs: It moves very slowly.

Very much, so, such a/an. Much, with or without very or so, can be used in mid-position: He is very much/so much/much admired in this country. Very much and so much (but never much on its own) can also go in the end position: I enjoy your party very much/so much. Such a/an + (adjective) + noun can be used in place of so + adjective: It was such a nice show! The show was so nice! Compare so … a/an in: It is so important an occasion, we can’t miss it.

Exercise 152. Fill in: so, such or such a(n).

A few years ago, I spent my holiday on the island of Santorini. I was ...so... worried about travelling alone that I became quite nervous. However, about five minutes after the ferry had left I met … nice American couple that I stayed with them for the whole holiday. When we docked, we were pushed onto a bus that was filled with … a lot of people that we felt as if we couldn’t breathe. At the bus station there were … many people waiting to offer us accommodation that we decided to ignore them, preferring to walk along the main road to find somewhere to stay ourselves. After an hour or so we started to think that not accepting any of the men’s offers of accommodation had been … bad idea that we decided to ask someone for help. We asked an old man if he knew of anywhere we could stay. He led us to a lovely little apartment on the edge of a cliff. It was … gorgeous a flat, and the view was … good that we took it immediately. We had brought … few things with us, and it took us … short time to unpack that we were on the famous black sand beach in no time. We had … nice time together and we became … good friends that we still keep in touch, sending letters and cards. This year Tom and Ann are coming to Scotland to spend Christmas with me.

Exercise 153. Rewrite the text using such/so ... that.

There’re many people in the station. I was unable to find the friend I had arranged to meet. It had also been a long time since I’d seen her. I barely remembered what she looked like. Then, suddenly I heard a familiar voice behind me. “Vera, is that really you?” Ann smiled at me. “It’s been terribly long. I’ve got an awful lot of things to tell you. Come on! Let’s go somewhere for coffee.” I took her to a lovely cafe I know. It was a very nice day so we decided to sit outside in the sun. We had a lot to say to each other. We didn’t notice the time fly. We used to spend a lot of time together. I always knew what she was thinking. We had never kept secrets from each other. Now, she seemed happy enough, but her eyes looked really sad. I was sure that there was something she wasn’t telling me. When I confronted her, she said that everything was fine. “Don’t try to pretend, Rachel,” I said. “We’ve been very good friends for many years. You can’t possibly think I can’t tell that you’re upset.”

Exercise 154. Put very much in its proper place:

1. Do you like the story? 2. I like a cup of hot tea at five o’clock. 3. I doubt that they have ever visited Greece. 4. She said that she was impressed by his progress. 5. They enjoyed themselves at the party. 6. She was disappointed to find out that the letter was lost. 7. Tamara regrets that she cannot take part in the discussion. 8. We were surprised to meet the two brothers there. 9. Would it matter if we arrive about five minutes later? 10. I can’t say that I like it. 11. I hope that you’ll be able to do it today. 12. He’s surprised to hear that. 13. I don’t want to go there. 14. The boy was pleased, because his mother bought him a new computer game.