Intensifying Adverbs: Common Collocations

Intensifying Adverbs: Common Collocations Espresso English

It was a bitterly cold winter morning.

Bitterly

You can use bitterly when there is a strong negative emotion: usually sadness (with “disappointed,” “regret,” and “cry”) or annoyance/anger (with “complain” and “resent”)

  • bitterly disappointed
  • bitterly regret
  • cry bitterly
  • complain bitterly
  • bitterly resent

Bitterly is also often used with cold, to emphasize weather that is very, very cold!

Deeply

You can use deeply with emotions in general, to emphasize that they are very strong.

  • deeply appreciative
  • deeply ashamed
  • deeply concerned
  • deeply hurt
  • deeply moved
  • deeply offended
  • deeply worried

Highly

You can use highly with “probability” words (likely/unlikely, probable, unusual) and others:

  • highly unlikely
  • highly probable
  • highly effective
  • highly controversial
  • highly profitable
  • highly recommended

Ridiculously

You can use ridiculously when something is so extreme, it’s difficult to believe.

  • ridiculously cheap
  • ridiculously easy
  • ridiculously long
  • ridiculously small
  • ridiculously early

Strongly

You can use strongly with verbs relating to having or expressing opinions:

  • strongly believe
  • strongly deny
  • strongly oppose
  • strongly feel
  • strongly dislike
  • strongly support
  • strongly influence

Learn more: 30 advanced adverbs

Learn the common combinations of words used by native English speakers!
Intensifying Adverbs: Common Collocations Espresso English

Learn more about this e-book