An emphasizing adjective, also known as an intensifying adjective, is used to make the meaning of a noun stronger or more intense.
Understanding Emphasizing Adjectives
According to the provided reference, emphasizing adjectives, also known as intensifying adjectives, are used to express a stronger degree or intensity of a quality or characteristic. They play a crucial role in adding emphasis and impact to the description of a noun. Unlike regular adjectives that simply describe, emphasizing adjectives heighten the quality they modify, making the statement more forceful or vivid.
These adjectives aren't comparing degrees like comparative or superlative adjectives (e.g., bigger, biggest). Instead, they are often absolute terms that are used to underscore the truth or reality of a quality.
How They Work
Emphasizing adjectives strengthen the description of a noun by indicating that the noun possesses the quality to an extreme or absolute degree.
- They intensify the meaning.
- They add impact to a statement.
- They make the description more forceful.
Common Examples
Some common examples of emphasizing adjectives include:
- Complete: A complete disaster (meaning it was a total disaster).
- Utter: Utter nonsense (meaning it was absolute nonsense).
- Absolute: An absolute fool (meaning he was entirely a fool).
- Sheer: Sheer joy (meaning it was pure joy).
- Real: My real home (meaning my actual, true home).
- Very: The very person I needed (meaning that specific person).
Note: While "very" is commonly used as an intensifier for other adjectives (e.g., very happy), it can also function as an emphasizing adjective when directly modifying a noun, meaning 'exact' or 'same'.
Examples in Sentences
Let's see how they work in context:
- It was an absolute mess. (Instead of just a mess, it was entirely a mess).
- Sheer terror filled the room. (Instead of just terror, it was pure, intense terror).
- This is the very spot where it happened. (Meaning this is the exact spot).
- His argument was utter rubbish. (Meaning his argument was complete nonsense).
Key Characteristics
Emphasizing adjectives share a few key characteristics:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Function | To intensify the meaning of the noun they modify |
| Impact | Add emphasis and make descriptions stronger |
| Modification | Directly precede and modify a noun |
| Synonym | Intensifying Adjective |
Why Use Them?
Writers and speakers use emphasizing adjectives to:
- Enhance vividness: Make descriptions more memorable.
- Convey strong emotions: Express feelings like frustration (absolute mess), joy (sheer delight), or fear (utter panic).
- Clarify truth or reality: Distinguish between something seeming real and being real.
By incorporating these words, communication becomes more dynamic and impactful, helping to convey precise levels of intensity regarding a quality or characteristic.
