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    Classification of degree modifiers
    quickinfo

    Adjectives can be modified by intensifiers, which indicate the degree, or extent, to which such adjectives apply, such as baie very and erg extremely, as in:

    1
    Die komitee is baie bekommerd.
    the committee be.PRS very concerned
    The committee is very concerned.

    and

    2
    in 'n erg vervalle toestand
    in an extremely dilapidated condition

    Intensifiers can also be adverbial degree words, such as betreklik relatively and ontsaglik immensely, as in:

    3
    Suid-Afrika is nog betreklik jonk.
    South Africa be.PRS still relatively young
    South Africa is still relatively young.

    and:

    4
    Hierdie toneel is vir ons ontsaglik waardevol.
    this scene be.PRS for us immensely valuable
    This scene is immensely valuable to us.
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    Categories of degree word modification

    While adjectives can be modified by intensifiers (baie very) and adverbial degree words (uitsonderlik exceptionally), such intensification can be classified in accordance with three progressive degrees of intensification, although the demarcation between them may be somewhat fuzzy.

    Amplifiers

    Amplifying intensifiers, or amplifiers, cause a high degree interpretation of the adjective:

    5
    Verbruikers moet baie versigtig wees.
    consumers must.AUX.MOD very careful be
    Consumers must be very careful.

    Downtoners

    Downtoning intensifiers, or downtoners, such as nouliks barely, cause a low degree interpretation of the adjective:

    6
    Sy is nouliks bewus daarvan.
    she be.PRS barely conscious thereof
    She is barely aware of it.

    Neutralisers

    Neutralising intensifiers or neutralisers, such as taamlik fairly, cause a medium degree interpretation of the adjective:

    7
    'n taamlik deftige restaurant
    a fairly stylish restaurant

    Additional categories of degree word modification

    Adverbial degree words can be questioned, e.g. by means of hoe how, as shown in the example below:

    8
    al was hy ook hoe versigtig
    even be.PRT he also how careful
    however careful he was

    The adverbial degree can be universally quantified if the meaning of the adjective allows it, e.g. by means of heeltemal completely, as in the example below:

    9
    Die taxi's is heeltemal verwoes.
    the taxi's be.PRS completely wrecked
    The taxis are completely wrecked.

    An approximate degree can be expressed, e.g. by means of amper almost, as shown in the example below:

    10
    Dit is amper onmoontlik.
    it be.PRS almost impossible
    It is almost impossible

    Measure phrases

    A small group of adjectives allows a more exact type of intensification in the form of a measure phrase, yielding an exact degree, or an unspecified measure of intensification.

    Adjectives can be negated, as shown below:

    11
    My hare is nie rooi nie.
    my hair be.PRS not red PTCL.NEG
    My hair is not red.

    A high degree can be evoked by means of the adverb so so:

    12
    Die patats lyk so lekker!
    The sweet.potatoes look so tasty!

    More often, though, so as is used as degree word in conjunction with soos as to express comparison:

    13
    Hy is nie so intelligent soos jy nie.
    he be.PRS not as intelligent as you PTCL.NEG
    He is not as intelligent as you.

    In addition to so as, as illustrated above, comparison can be expressed by means of ewe equally, as in:

    14
    Julle is ewe oud.
    you be.PRS equally clever
    You are equally clever.
    References
      About this article
      Author(s): Ernst Kotzé, Adri Breed
      Category: Afrikaans Syntax
      Keywords: intensifier adverbial degree word amplifier downtoner neutralisermeasure phrase
      Version: 1.0, May 2020
      Version history:
      version editor(s) date remarks
      1.0 Ernst Kotzé, Adri Breed May 2020
      This is a beta version.
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