{"id":6454,"date":"2023-03-01T06:00:33","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T12:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=6454"},"modified":"2024-01-05T11:40:37","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T17:40:37","slug":"qualifiers-and-intensifiers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/adjectives-adverbs\/qualifiers-and-intensifiers\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Qualifiers and Intensifiers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mediterranean Chicken on the menu is really recommended.<\/em><\/p>\n

You seem seldom energetic this week.<\/em><\/p>\n

This hotel room is quite nice.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When we express ourselves, we might include words meant to further limit or amplify what we aim to communicate. For example, we aren’t just happy<\/em>\u2014we are very<\/u> happy<\/em>. After working a full day in the sun, the volunteers might say they’re sort of<\/u> tired<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Qualifiers and Intensifiers: Definition and Examples<\/h2>\n

Qualifiers are words we use to restrict the meanings of adverbs and adjectives. Intensifiers are words we insert to magnify them. Here are some common qualifiers and intensifiers we might write, say, or see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Qualifiers<\/strong><\/td>\nIntensifiers<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
kind of<\/td>\npretty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
seldom<\/td>\nfairly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sometimes<\/td>\nquite<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
somewhat<\/td>\nreally<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sort of<\/td>\nvery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

slow (adj.) > pretty<\/u> slow<\/p>\n

swiftly (adv.) > kind of<\/u>\u00a0swiftly<\/p>\n

impossible (adj.) > seldom<\/u> impossible<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Each qualifier\u00a0or intensifier intends to enhance the meaning of the adjective or adverb being modified.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at a few qualifiers and intensifiers in complete sentences as well:<\/p>\n

I am pretty<\/u> slow<\/u> to think and respond after eating a large meal.<\/em><\/p>\n

Markus runs kind of<\/span>\u00a0swiftly<\/u> for a man of his size.<\/em><\/p>\n

These geometry tests are seldom<\/u> impossible<\/u><\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Qualifiers and Intensifiers: Not Always Needed<\/h2>\n

Qualifiers and intensifiers seek to offer more information and can provide desired emphasis at times, especially in spoken conversation.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Katarina quickly<\/u> reacts when challenged about her views.<\/p>\n

Katarina seldom<\/u> quickly<\/u> reacts when challenged about her views. (qualifier)<\/p>\n

Katarina very<\/u> quickly<\/u> reacts when challenged about her views. (intensifier)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In writing, however, we will find that they can often be expendable. Compare the following sentence pairs.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I am pretty<\/u> slow<\/u> to think and respond after eating a large meal.
\nI am slow<\/u> to think and respond after eating a large meal.<\/p>\n

Markus runs kind of<\/span>\u00a0swiftly<\/u> for a man of his size.
\nMarkus runs swiftly<\/u> for a man of his size.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While the qualifying or intensifying words appear to enhance our statements, omitting them will not change our sentences by any notable degree.<\/p>\n

Qualifiers and Intensifiers: Different From Adverbs<\/h2>\n

Because of their placement and function,\u00a0words acting as\u00a0qualifiers and intensifiers can resemble adverbs, but technically they are not. A standard adverb can modify a verb in addition to an adjective or another adverb; a qualifier\u00a0or intensifier\u00a0cannot. Regular adverbs also can be made comparative<\/a> or superlative<\/a>; qualifiers\u00a0and intensifiers cannot be.<\/p>\n

Qualifiers and Intensifiers: Seeking Concision<\/h2>\n

A frequent or mounting use of qualifiers\u00a0and intensifiers\u00a0in our writing will dilute its formality and establish an increasingly loose and wordy narrative. In many cases, we will find that we can forgo the need for a qualifier\u00a0or intensifier\u00a0paired with another word by choosing a better single word.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your dress is really<\/u> nice<\/u>.
\nYour dress is elegant<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Chicago can be very<\/u> cold<\/u> in February.
\nChicago can be frigid<\/u> in February.<\/p>\n

Eloy’s input is somewhat<\/u>\u00a0meaningless<\/u>\u00a0to the matter.
\nEloy’s input is irrelevant<\/u> to the matter.<\/p>\n

Katarina very<\/u> quickly<\/u> reacts when challenged about her views.
\nKatarina instantly<\/u> reacts when challenged about her views.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Should content you are writing or editing seem wordy, you can help tighten it by reviewing for the adverbs and adjectives. If they have qualifiers or intensifiers, remove them if they are unneeded. If they form a two-word thought (e.g., very quickly<\/em>), choose a better single word (instantly<\/em>). You will reduce word count while being more concise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Related Topics<\/h3>\n

Adjectives and Adverbs: Forms for Comparison<\/a>
\nComposing Comparisons<\/a><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Identify the qualifiers and intensifiers in the following sentences.\u00a0If they result in unnecessary modification, cross out the unnecessary word or provide a more-concise word to resolve wordiness.<\/p>\n

1. Dad finds it fairly silly that you won’t share your toothpaste with me.<\/p>\n

2. It’s really clear that Joe wants to play third base instead of second base.<\/p>\n

3. The weather in Puerto is quite warm this time of year.<\/p>\n

4. The Smiths are sort of conservative about their spending.<\/p>\n

5. Sabrina seems pretty sure that she wants to go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. Dad finds it\u00a0fairly\u00a0<\/strong>silly that you won’t share your toothpaste with me.\u00a0Omit\u00a0fairly<\/em> or use an alternative such as\u00a0funny<\/em>\u00a0for\u00a0fairly silly<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. It’s\u00a0really<\/strong>\u00a0clear that Joe wants to play third base instead of second base.\u00a0Omit\u00a0really<\/em> or use an alternative such as\u00a0obvious<\/em> or\u00a0evident<\/em> for\u00a0really clear<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. The weather in Puerto is\u00a0quite\u00a0<\/strong>warm this time of year.\u00a0Omit\u00a0quite<\/em> or use an alternative such as\u00a0hot<\/em> or\u00a0tropical<\/em> for\u00a0quite warm<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. The Smiths are\u00a0sort of\u00a0<\/strong>conservative about their spending.\u00a0Omit\u00a0sort of<\/em> or use an alternative such as\u00a0reserved<\/em> or\u00a0careful<\/em> for\u00a0sort of conservative<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Sabrina seems\u00a0pretty<\/strong>\u00a0sure that she wants to go.\u00a0Omit\u00a0pretty<\/em> or use an alternative such as\u00a0certain<\/em> for\u00a0pretty sure<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mediterranean Chicken on the menu is really recommended. You seem seldom energetic this week. This hotel room is quite nice. When we express ourselves, we might include words meant to further limit or amplify what we aim to communicate. For example, we aren’t just happy\u2014we are very happy. After working a full day in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adjectives-adverbs"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6454"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6454"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6801,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6454\/revisions\/6801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}