Intensity Modifiers
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Intensity modifiers like 'sangat' (very) or 'sekali' (extremely) add power to your adjectives to describe the world more vividly.
- Place 'sangat' before the adjective: 'sangat besar' (very big).
- Place 'sekali' after the adjective: 'besar sekali' (extremely big).
- Use 'agak' before the adjective for mild intensity: 'agak besar' (quite big).
Meanings
Intensity modifiers are words used to increase or decrease the strength of an adjective, allowing for more precise descriptions.
High Intensity (Pre-modifier)
Used before the adjective to indicate a high degree.
“Dia sangat pintar.”
“Makanan ini sangat enak.”
High Intensity (Post-modifier)
Used after the adjective to indicate an extreme degree.
“Rumah itu besar sekali.”
“Harganya mahal sekali.”
Mild Intensity
Used before the adjective to soften the description.
“Hari ini agak dingin.”
“Dia agak sibuk.”
Intensity Modifier Placement
| Modifier | Position | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sangat | Before | Very | Sangat besar |
| Sekali | After | Extremely | Besar sekali |
| Agak | Before | Quite/A bit | Agak besar |
| Terlalu | Before | Too | Terlalu besar |
| Paling | Before | Most | Paling besar |
| Cukup | Before | Enough/Quite | Cukup besar |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Sangat + Adj | Sangat cepat |
| Affirmative | Adj + Sekali | Cepat sekali |
| Negative | Tidak + Sangat + Adj | Tidak sangat cepat |
| Negative | Tidak + Terlalu + Adj | Tidak terlalu cepat |
| Question | Apakah + Sangat + Adj? | Apakah sangat cepat? |
| Question | Adj + Sekali? | Cepat sekali? |
| Softened | Agak + Adj | Agak cepat |
Espectro de formalidade
Makanan ini sangat lezat. (Dining)
Makanan ini sangat enak. (Dining)
Enak banget! (Dining)
Enak parah! (Dining)
Intensity Scale
High
- Sangat Very
- Sekali Extremely
Low
- Agak Quite
Excessive
- Terlalu Too
Examples by Level
Kopi ini sangat panas.
This coffee is very hot.
Dia pintar sekali.
He/she is very smart.
Cuaca agak dingin.
The weather is quite cold.
Rumah itu besar sekali.
That house is very big.
Film itu sangat membosankan.
That movie is very boring.
Saya lelah sekali hari ini.
I am very tired today.
Harganya agak mahal.
The price is a bit expensive.
Dia sangat baik hati.
He/she is very kind-hearted.
Situasi ini sangat rumit.
This situation is very complicated.
Pemandangannya indah sekali.
The view is extremely beautiful.
Keputusannya agak berisiko.
The decision is quite risky.
Dia sangat bersemangat tentang proyek ini.
He/she is very enthusiastic about this project.
Analisisnya sangat mendalam.
The analysis is very in-depth.
Dampak kebijakan itu terasa sekali.
The impact of that policy is felt strongly.
Reaksinya agak tidak terduga.
The reaction was somewhat unexpected.
Perubahan ini sangat signifikan.
This change is very significant.
Argumennya sangat persuasif.
The argument is very persuasive.
Kejadian itu mengejutkan sekali.
That event was extremely surprising.
Sikapnya agak ambigu.
His/her attitude is somewhat ambiguous.
Kondisinya sangat kritis.
The condition is very critical.
Fenomena ini sangat kompleks.
This phenomenon is very complex.
Dedikasinya luar biasa sekali.
His/her dedication is truly extraordinary.
Pendekatannya agak konvensional.
The approach is somewhat conventional.
Implikasinya sangat luas.
The implications are very broad.
Easily Confused
Learners think they are interchangeable in position.
Learners confuse mild and high intensity.
Learners use intensifiers with verbs.
Erros comuns
Sangat besar sekali
Sangat besar
Besar sangat
Sangat besar
Agak besar sekali
Agak besar
Saya sangat lapar sekali
Saya lapar sekali
Sangat makan
Makan dengan lahap
Terlalu sekali
Terlalu besar
Agak sekali
Agak besar
Sangat-sangat besar
Besar sekali
Paling sangat besar
Paling besar
Sangat bagus sekali
Sangat bagus
Sangat-sekali besar
Besar sekali
Agak sangat besar
Agak besar
Sangat-agak besar
Agak besar
Sentence Patterns
Hari ini ___ ___.
Rumah itu ___ ___.
Dia ___ ___ tentang pekerjaannya.
Keputusan itu ___ ___ bagi perusahaan.
Real World Usage
Lucu banget!
Saya sangat tertarik.
Tempat ini indah sekali.
Pedas sekali, tolong.
Keren banget!
Hasilnya sangat signifikan.
Pick one
Not for verbs
Use 'banget' for friends
Be polite
Smart Tips
Use 'sekali' instead of 'sangat'.
Use 'agak' to soften your opinion.
Avoid 'banget' and use 'sangat'.
Use 'tidak terlalu' instead of 'tidak sangat'.
Pronúncia
Sangat
Pronounced 'sah-ngat'. Ensure the 'ng' is a single nasal sound.
Sekali
Pronounced 'suh-kah-lee'. The 'e' is a schwa.
Emphasis
Besar... SEKALI!
High pitch on 'sekali' adds extreme emphasis.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Sangat sits in front like a guard, Sekali waits at the end like a tail.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant balloon. 'Sangat' is a big pump pushing air in from the front. 'Sekali' is a heavy weight pulling the balloon down from the back.
Rhyme
Sangat at the start, Sekali at the end, use them well to describe your friend.
Story
Budi wanted to describe his cat. He said the cat was 'sangat lucu' (very cute). His friend said, 'No, the cat is lucu sekali!' (extremely cute). Budi realized both were right, but 'sekali' sounded more excited.
Word Web
Desafio
Describe five objects in your room using 'sangat', 'sekali', and 'agak' in 5 minutes.
Notas culturais
Using 'banget' (informal for 'sangat') is extremely common in daily life.
In formal settings, avoid 'banget' and stick to 'sangat'.
Jakartans often use 'banget' or 'gila' for extreme intensity.
These modifiers evolved from standard Indonesian vocabulary to serve as degree markers.
Conversation Starters
Bagaimana cuaca hari ini?
Apa pendapatmu tentang film ini?
Apakah hotel ini mahal?
Bagaimana menurutmu tentang proyek baru ini?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Rumah itu besar ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia sangat pintar sekali.
Which is correct?
Dia sangat baik.
Can you use 'sangat' with verbs?
A: Apakah kopinya panas? B: Ya, ___.
besar / sekali / rumah / itu
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesRumah itu besar ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Dia sangat pintar sekali.
Which is correct?
Dia sangat baik.
Can you use 'sangat' with verbs?
A: Apakah kopinya panas? B: Ya, ___.
besar / sekali / rumah / itu
Match: Sangat, Agak, Terlalu
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
No, that is redundant. Use one or the other.
'Sangat' is standard/formal, 'banget' is informal/colloquial.
No, these are strictly for adjectives. Use other adverbs for verbs.
No, it just means 'a little bit'. It can be used for anything.
It is the standard way to emphasize an adjective.
Use 'terlalu' before the adjective.
Yes, they are standard, though 'banget' is more common in Jakarta.
Use 'paling' before the adjective.
In Other Languages
muy + adjective
Indonesian has the post-positional 'sekali' option.
très + adjective
French does not have a post-positional equivalent.
sehr + adjective
Indonesian's 'sekali' is more emphatic.
totemo + adjective
Japanese word order is strictly pre-adjectival.
jiddan (after adjective)
Indonesian has both pre and post options.
hen + adjective
Indonesian intensifiers are optional; 'hen' is often mandatory.
