What Are Intensive Word Forms?
Imagine you’re trying to express that something is not just good, but really good—like when you say ‘bloody well’ or ‘the heck.’ These are examples of intensive word forms. They add a layer of emphasis and strength to the root word, making it more impactful.
The Role of Intensives in Grammar
Intensives can be adverbs or postpositive adjectives that make their base words stronger. For instance, ‘preeminent’ is an intensive form of ‘prominent,’ and ‘excellens + -issimus’ is a Latin intensive form of ‘excellens.’ These forms are usually created through lexical processes, but they can also be formed by regular grammatical means.
Examples Across Languages
Let’s dive into some examples. In English, you might hear phrases like ‘bloody well’ or ‘the heck,’ which are intensives that add a layer of emphasis to the sentence. These can sometimes be considered vulgar or inappropriate in certain contexts.
Now, let’s look at how intensives work in other languages. In American English, you might use ‘this/that’ as an intensifier. Hebrew has a distinction between pi`el and hiph`il binyans, which can be seen as forms of intensification. Latin uses verbal prefixes like e- and per-, which also serve to strengthen the meaning of words.
These examples illustrate how intensives are used across different languages to describe high claims of intensity. Whether it’s ‘bloody well’ in English or ‘excellens + -issimus’ in Latin, these forms add a powerful punch to the sentence, making their meaning more vivid and impactful.
Conclusion
Intensive word forms are like the seasoning that adds flavor to your words. They make your sentences pop with extra emphasis and strength. Whether you’re using them in English or another language, these forms can transform a simple statement into something more powerful and impactful. So next time you want to really drive home a point, consider adding an intensive word form to your sentence—just be mindful of the context!
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This page is based on the article Intensive word form published in Wikipedia (retrieved on January 27, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
