Grandement

Grandement is a French adverb meaning to a great extent, greatly, or significantly. It is used to intensify adjectives, past participles, or verbs, typically in formal or literary contexts. As an adverb, grandement is invariable and does not change with the gender or number of the subject.

Etymology and register: Grandement derives from the adjective grand (large, great) with the adverbial suffix -ment. It has been part of Modern French for several centuries and is common in writing and formal speech, though less frequent in everyday spoken French.

Usage notes: The adverb commonly appears with participles or adjectives such as grandement apprécié (greatly appreciated), grandement influencé (greatly influenced), or grandment utile (greatly useful). It can also modify a verb phrase, as in Cela a grandement facilité notre travail (That greatly facilitated our work). In casual conversation, speakers often opt for less formal intensifiers like beaucoup or énormément.

Examples:

- Le projet a grandement amélioré la qualité de vie.

- Elle est grandement reconnaissante envers ses mentors.

- Cette décision a grandement facilité la mise en œuvre du programme.

See also: Synonyms and related intensifiers include énormément, largement, fortement, and très, each carrying slightly different nuances of emphasis and formality.