eminently
especially
exceedingly
extraordinarily
extremely
fantastically
greatly
heavily
highly
hopelessly
horribly
hugely
impossibly
incredibly
infinitely
notably
particularly
radically
really
remarkably
seriously
strikingly
supremely
surprisingly
suspiciously
terribly
unbelievably
very
violently
vitally
wildly
wonderfully
Note that very can be used in front of superlative adjectives when you want to be very emphatic. This is explained in paragraphs 2.167 to 2.168.
2.144 Many of these submodifying adverbs not only intensify the meaning of the adjective but also allow you to express your opinion about what you are saying. For example, if you say that something is surprisingly large, you are expressing surprise at how large it is as well as intensifying the meaning of large.
He has amazingly long eyelashes.
…a delightfully refreshing taste.
…a shockingly brutal scene.
…a horribly uncomfortable chair.
…incredibly boring documents.
However, you use a few of these submodifying adverbs with no other purpose than to intensify the meaning of the adjective.
They’re awfully brave.
The other girls were dreadfully dull companions.
Here is a list of words only used to intensify adjectives:
awfully
dreadfully
especially
extremely
greatly
highly
really
so
terribly
very
Note that awfully, dreadfully, and terribly are used in informal language and highly is used in very formal language.
Note also that so is normally only used after a linking verb.
I am so sorry.
reducing qualitative adjectives
2.145 Some submodifying adverbs are used to reduce the effect of qualitative adjectives.
The story was mildly amusing.
It’s a fairly common feeling.
…moderately rich people.
…his rather large stomach.
My last question is somewhat personal.
Here is a list of words used to reduce the effect of an adjective:
faintly
fairly
mildly
moderately
pretty
quite
rather
reasonably
slightly
somewhat
Note also that quite is normally only used with adjectives that are used after a linking verb.
She was quite tall.
talking about extent
2.146 Some modiifying adverbs are used to talk about the extent of the quality that you are describing.
Here is a list of words used to talk about the extent of a quality:
almost
exclusively
fully
largely
mainly
mostly
nearly
partly
predominantly
primarily
roughly
~
absolutely
altogether
completely
entirely
perfectly
purely
quite
simply
totally
utterly
2.147 The first group in the list above are used almost always just to talk about the extent of a quality. They are most commonly used with classifying adjectives.
It was an almost automatic reflex.
…a shop with an exclusively female clientele.
…the largely rural south east.
The wolf is now nearly extinct.
The reasons for this were partly economic and practical, and partly political and social.
Almost and nearly are also used with qualitative adjectives.
The club was almost empty.
It was nearly dark.
Note that roughly can be used when you want to say that something is nearly or approximately like something else.
West Germany, Japan and Sweden are at roughly similar levels of economic development.
Note also that half is sometimes used in this way. For example, you can describe someone as half American if just one of their parents was American.
2.148 The second group in the list above are used not only to talk about the extent of a quality but also to emphasize the adjective. They are used with classifying adjectives as well as qualitative adjectives.
You’re absolutely right.
This policy has been completely unsuccessful.
Everyone appeared to be completely unaware of the fact.
The discussion was purely theoretical.
It really is quite astonishing.
…a totally new situation.
We lived totally separate lives.
…utterly trivial matters.
Note that absolutely is frequently used with qualitative adjectives that express enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm. When you use absolutely in this way you are emphasizing how strongly you feel about what you are saying.
…an absolutely absurd idea.
I think it’s absolutely wonderful.
The enquiry is absolutely crucial.
Here is a list of qualitative adjectives often emphasized by absolutely:
absurd
awful
brilliant
certain
crucial
enormous
essential
excellent
furious
hilarious
huge
impossible
massive
perfect
ridiculous
splendid
terrible
vital
wonderful
Note also that completely and utterly can also be used in this way.
It is completely impossible to imagine such a world.
He began to feel utterly miserable.
saying that there is enough of something
2.149 You can use submodifying adverbs such as adequately, sufficiently, and acceptably when you want to say that someone or something has enough of the quality you are describing.
The roof is adequately insulated.
We found a bank of snow sufficiently deep to dig a cave.
2.150 You can also show that you think something is sufficient by using enough. Enough always comes after the adjective, and never before it.