Intensifying and softening adverbs ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 7

Intensifying and softening adverbs

Adverbs are often used before adjectives and verbs either to strengthen their meaning (intensifying adverbs) or to weaken it (softening adverbs). Her comments were deeply offensive. (intensifier – very/extremely) Her comments were slightly offensive. (softener – a little bit)
A	Intensifying adverbs Notice how intensifying adverbs are used to mean ‘extremely’ or ‘completely’ in the sentences below. The expressions marked with * are very informal. Olivia really enjoys doing housework. You should see her flat – it’s always spotlessly clean. It was downright rude of Antonio to tell Paula that she looked older than her own mother. I hope he feels thoroughly ashamed. It’s blatantly obvious that Olga is only interested in Richard because he’s so wealthy. I wonder what she’ll do when she finds out he’s wildly exaggerated how rich he really is! I don’t know what I was worrying about! The exam turned out to be dead easy*! This celebrity website is good fun but most of the information is wildly inaccurate.
B	Softening adverbs Note the softening adverbs used in these sentences from newspapers. The spokesperson said the new insurance scheme was only slightly different from the old one. [weak collocation; slightly can be used with a wide range of adjectives] The chief executive said he was mildly surprised by the public interest in the firm’s plans. [mildly also collocates with amusing/ed, irritating/ed, offensive] Alfredo Scaluzzi’s new film is loosely based on a nineteenth-century novel. [loosely also collocates with centred, structured, related, connected] Ms Giroa said she regarded reports that she was about to seek a divorce as faintly ridiculous. [fairly formal; faintly also collocates with amused, surprised, patronising, absurd]
C	Alternatives to very There are a variety of words that you can use as alternatives to very which collocate with most adjectives, for example: really, extremely, terribly, incredibly and awfully. Other adverbs collocate with certain adjectives and verbs but not with others. alternatives to very √ NOT highly unlikely, educated, recommended appreciate, influence, interesting strongly influence appreciate greatly appreciate, influence utterly absurd, ridiculous sorry, busy, glad, lonely completely/totally/entirely different, dependent, separate thoroughly enjoy Common mistakes Absolutely collocates only with adjectives which have strong meanings, e.g. absolutely (NOT very) delighted, very (NOT absolutely) happy.

EXERCISES

7.1	Match a word from each box to form collocations.
7.2	Complete each sentence using a collocation from 7.1. 1 I’m amazed you didn’t realise she was lying! It ___________ ____________was to me! 2 It was ___________ ____________of him not to say hello to the secretary. 3 I’ve been hoovering and dusting all day, so now my flat is ___________ ____________. 4 Most of the facts were wrong in that news report. It was ___________ ____________. 5 You should be ___________ ____________of yourself. Your behaviour was appalling!
7.3	Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page. 1 The American writer Mark Twain is famous for commenting that reports of his death had been over-exaggerated. 2 This restaurant is recommended by many different people. 3 The exam was extremely easy; everyone got high marks. (make this informal) 4 The musical West Side Story is kind of based on the plot of Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. (make this less informal) 5 The idea of the boss singing Happy Birthday to me struck me as a little bit ridiculous. 6 The success of the Wimbledon tennis tournament is 100% dependent on the weather. (give two answers) 7 I really enjoyed the days I spent at your lovely house in the country. 8 I was just a little surprised by her decision to quit her job so soon. 9 I was really delighted when they told me I’d got the job. 10 The new model of this camera is a little bit different from the old one.
7.4	Add intensifying adverbs from the opposite page to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger. 1 I appreciate the fact that you have given me so much of your time. 2 Sometimes Tony says ridiculous things. 3 The crossword in today’s newspaper is difficult. I can’t even start it! 4 It’s sweet of you to offer to help. 5 I found his remarks offensive; he should apologise. 6 She leads a lonely life in a tiny house on a remote island. 7 We should try to keep the two groups separate from each other. 8 She is an educated person. 9 I’ve been busy all week. 10 That meal was expensive! I’m not eating there again.
7.5	Are the following adverb collocations correct or not? If they are incorrect, correct them using collocations from C opposite. 1 I thoroughly enjoyed the film. 2 Your help would be strongly appreciated. 3 The song is highly influenced by Brazilian folk rhythms. 4 I find the situation utterly absurd. Tip Look out for more collocations with these words as you listen and read, and record them in collocation bubbles indicating what they do and do not collocate with.

ANSWER KEY

7.1 blatantly obvious downright rude spotlessly clean thoroughly ashamed wildly inaccurate 7.5 1 Correct 2 Incorrect. We say greatly appreciated. 3 Incorrect. We say strongly influenced. 4 Correct