Adjective intensifiers

There are some words which can be used to 'intensify' many adjectives – 'very' 'really' 'totally' 'absolutely' 'completely' 'utterly' 'entirely'.

◦It's very tall.
◦We're really happy.
◦She's totally exhausted.
◦I'm absolutely horrified.
◦He's completely hopeless.
◦You look utterly miserable.
◦I'm entirely satisfied.
Certain adjectives have their own 'special' intensifiers which are often used with them. Here are some common ones:

blind drunk

◦He was blind drunk and behaved really badly.
bone dry

◦I must have a drink. I'm bone dry.
brand new

◦I've just bought a brand new car.
crystal clear

◦The sea near Rhodes is crystal clear.
dead easy

◦That exam was dead easy. I've certainly passed.

◦He's won three lottery prizes this year. He's dead lucky.
dead right

◦I agree entirely. You are dead right.
dirt cheap

◦I bought my car for a dirt cheap price from an old lady who had hardly driven it.
fast asleep / sound asleep

◦I was in bed and fast asleep by nine.
◦I was sound asleep and I didn't hear anything.
paper thin

◦These office walls are paper thin. You can hear everything said in the next office.
pitch black

◦There's no moon. It's pitch black out there.
razor sharp

◦Be careful with that knife- it's razor sharp.
rock hard

◦It's impossible to dig this soil – it's rock hard.
stark naked

◦The hotel door slammed behind me and I was left standing stark naked in the middle of the corridor.
stone deaf

◦He can't hear a thing. He's stone deaf.
wide awake

◦I was wide awake by six.
wide open

◦Who left the door wide open?

Write a good E-mail-2

Dear Harriet,

Thank you very much for sending me your proposal for next year's training courses.

I'm afraid that we have received two other proposals with much lower prices than those in your one. Unless you can find some way of reducing your asking price, I don't think that there is any way that we can continue to work together.

We will be making a final decision next Monday. If you wish to send us an adjusted proposal, we would need to have it by Friday at the latest.

If you need any further information, please email me.

Regards.

Ted Bull

Training Manager

Write a good E-mail

E-mail Writing

•the intro
•the details
•the action
•the close
Dear Simon,

Thank you very much for showing me round your production facilities. I was most impressed.

I'm pleased to tell you that your company is one of two short-listed for the production of our new website video. This is an important part of our marketing strategy and we are sure you will treat this with the importance it deserves.

I need to have a draft outline of your thoughts for this video by the end of the month. Please send this to me by email as an attachment.

If you need any further help, feel free to contact me.

Best wishes.

Sandy Benny

Marketing Manager

Email Writting

Dear Simon,

Thank you for an excellent lunch. It was good to see you again.

You asked me to give you a quote for equipping your new office in
Dubai. My team is dealing with this as a matter of urgency and we
will be back to you shortly.

You also asked me to send you our current price list. I am attaching a
copy to this email.

If you have any further requests, I will be only too happy to help.

I hope to see you again soon.

Lindsey

write an email

Dear Jane,

Thank you very much for inviting me to your company's Cocktail Evening next month.

I'm afraid I won't be able to attend because I will be on a business trip to San Diego at that time.

I'm particularly sorry that I won't be able to come because I particularly enjoyed last year's event. I'm sure that this year's party will be an equally big success.

Could you give me a call as there are one or two problems I need to discuss with you concerning our current contract? It's nothing very serious, just a few teething problems.

Once again, I'd like to thank you for your kind invitation.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Jackson

Writing an apology 1

Dear Mr White,

Thank you for your recent job application.

I'm afraid to say that we have received a large number of applications from candidates more
obviously qualified for the job than you appear to be. You have not been shortlisted for
this particular job.

However, we have retained your job application in our files and will contact you if a
vacancy appears that seems to be more in line with your qualifications and experience.

We would like to offer you our good wishes for your continued search for a suitable job.

Yours sincerely,

Conny Black
Executive Vice-President

Writing an apology 1

Dear Mr White,

Thank you for your recent job application.

I'm afraid to say that we have received a large number of applications from candidates more
obviously qualified for the job than you appear to be. You have not been shortlisted for
this particular job.

However, we have retained your job application in our files and will contact you if a
vacancy appears that seems to be more in line with your qualifications and experience.

We would like to offer you our good wishes for your continued search for a suitable job.

Yours sincerely,

Conny Black
Executive Vice-President

Writing an apology

Dear Ms Rose,

YOUR ORDER NUMBER CB4578

Thank you for your email of the 3rd March.

I'm very sorry to hear about the mistake we made with your order. I have investigated this and found an error in our order-processing system.

I have arranged for a repeat order to be sent to you today. I have also enclosed a voucher for you to receive a 5% discount on your next order. For your convenience, I have included a copy of our new catalogue.

Please do not hesitate to email me if you have any further problems.

Once again, please accept my apologies for the inconvenience caused


Yours sincerely,

Carlton Palmer