Which strong adverb goes with which adjective
bitterly disappointed - highly unlikely - deeply grateful
How to use this sheet
Strong adverbs in English do not attach freely to any adjective; each one keeps a small circle of regular partners, and the pairing is remembered as a unit rather than worked out from meaning. Choosing the partner a fluent speaker expects is one of the clearest signals that you control the language rather than translate into it. The all-purpose intensifier everyone learns first is not wrong, but it flattens every statement to the same level and tells the reader nothing. Swapping an adverb from one row into another usually produces a sentence that breaks no rule and is completely dead on the page.
| Adverb | Adjectives it pairs with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bitterly | disappointed, cold, divided | She was bitterly disappointed by the decision. |
| utterly | convinced, exhausted, ridiculous | He seemed utterly convinced that the figures were wrong. |
| highly | unlikely, recommended, controversial | It is highly unlikely that the flight will leave tonight. |
| deeply | concerned, grateful, offended | The board is deeply concerned about the delay. |
| painfully | aware, obvious, slow | He was painfully aware that everyone was waiting for him. |
| widely | regarded, believed, available | She is widely regarded as the best in the field. |
| fully | aware, booked, refundable | We are fully aware of the risks. |
| perfectly | clear, reasonable, happy | Let me make one thing perfectly clear. |
| hugely | successful, popular, influential | The campaign was hugely successful in the north. |
| seriously | injured, ill, understaffed | Nobody was seriously injured in the crash. |
In use
She was bitterly disappointed, though she was fully aware that the decision had been coming for months. It is highly unlikely that the committee will meet before September. We are deeply grateful for everything you did that week.
Watch out
We are highly grateful for your help and hugely concerned about the delay.
These pairs are learned, not reasoned out. Two adverbs in the table sit beside the same adjective, in rows five and seven, and they do not mean the same thing: one adds discomfort about what is known, the other only completeness of knowledge. Rows one and four also look interchangeable and are not - the first carries resentment, the second carries gravity and concern. Finally, resist the urge to intensify everything: three strong pairs in a paragraph is already a lot, and the fourth simply stops being heard.