How Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree Work

Khan Academy

This animated grammar lesson explores the function and usage of intensifiers and adverbs of degree. The narrator explains how these specific types of adverbs modify adjectives to express intensity or extent, distinguishing them from simple comparative modifiers. Using clear handwritten text and simple illustrations, the video demonstrates how adding words like "really," "very," and "extremely" can double down on a description. The video uses engaging and humorous examples, such as the "Incredibly Deadly Viper" from Lemony Snicket's *A Series of Unfortunate Events*, to visualize abstract grammatical concepts. By altering the viper's description to "somewhat deadly" and "barely deadly"—and adjusting the drawing's teeth accordingly—the narrator concretely shows how adverbs of degree shift meaning along a spectrum. Teachers can use this video to help students move beyond basic descriptions in their writing. It provides a accessible framework for understanding how language can be precise regarding "how much" or to what extent something is true, moving from binary descriptions to a nuanced scale of meaning using modifiers.