Intensifiers; just how intense are they?

Intensifiers hold a unique place in the English language. They are the little words that play a BIG role. Used in combination with other words, they add emphasis to ordinary sentences.

Intensifiers seem to be favorite items tested on the Michigan Proficiency Exams… so you need to know them!

By learning what follows you’ll be ready to encounter intensifiers on the exam. Notice how they are used and what precedes and/or follows them because the structures remain the same.

For instance, “by far” as used in the example below, is followed by the superlative of the adjective “tall.” Other instances will find intensifiers followed by superlatives of other adjectives.

Examples:

She is by far the tallest woman in the class.

By far the largest elephant I’ve seen.

Far andaway the largest elephant I’ve seen.

Far better than I imagined.

Each and every one of us needs to attend the meeting.

Every single one of us needs to attend the meeting.

It’s the one and only answer to the problem.

There are hardly any answers to the problem.

There are almost no answers to the problem.

There are few such answers.

Such answers arefew and far between.

There is no reason whatsoever for her to leave.

She left withoutany reason whatsoever.

Quite a few students passed their preliminary exam.

A good many students passed their preliminary exam.

Many a student passed their preliminary exam.

Far / way too many people smoke in this restaurant.

There’s much / far too much smoke in this restaurant.

Something must be done once and for all.

Just this once something must be done.

Every once in a while we go to the theater.

We go to the theaterevery now and again / then.

All too often I miss the bus in the morning.

More often than not I miss the bus in the morning.

How tall he is!

What a tall man he is!

I’ve never ever seen a taller man!

I’ve yet to meet a taller man!

He’s a very / a most / quite a tall man!

It’s not at all out of my way.

It’s not in the least out of my way.

It’s not the least of our worries.

I’m not interestedin the least.

This will take a week at the very least.

The good news is that the practice tests available from this site have plenty of practice on these much tested items.

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