The empatic marker -en may be found in expressions like the following:

The function of the suffix is reinforcement, or one might even say: "more reinforcement", since the adjectives to which it is attached already have a heavy, mostly emotional intrinsic load by themselves. Typical examples are almachtich, , geweldich, grouwélich, ûnhjirmlik, ûnwittend. They can be translated by terms as 'terrible', 'appalling, 'awful', 'shocking' and the like. In this respect, prefixed superlatives like alderferskuorrendst most terrible or alderôfgryslikst most horrible form a class of potential input words with an even stronger emotional load (for prefixation of superlatives with aller-/alder-, see degree). Hence we get adjective formations like alderferskuorrendsten and alderôfgrysliksten. On the other hand, adjectives with a neutral content are not liable to be suffixed. Thus simply read red as in *in readen auto a red-EMP car a red car is odd. However, if we pimp up read to bloedread blood-read read as blood, suffixation with -en becomes an option; it is not strange to speak of in bloedreaden auto a blood-read-EMP car an awfully red car.

The use of this suffix faces certain restrictions. It may not be used in plural NPs. Hence, *swieren keardels heavy-EMP chap-PL heavy chaps or *grutten domkoppen big-EMP birdbrain-PL terrible birdbrains are ungrammatical. Also definite NPs are unsuitable: *de swieren keardel the heavy-EMP chap the heavy chap or *de ferskuorrenden pine the terrible-EMP pain the quite terrible pain. What is left are singular indefinite contexts. These will do, as was exemplified in the examples in (1). But even the indefinite set as such is too broad. The suffix is used to communicate that something is 'awful'. This may be the pragmatic reason why we do not encounter indefinite determiners like negative gjin no and interrogative hoe'n how a. But significantly, hoe'n may also be used in exclamative expressions in which it is totally acceptable, as for instance in (2):

Furthermore, it should be noted that the emphatic marker may only be attached to an adjective in attributive position. Predicative use is excluded, as shown in (3):

Another restriction worth mentioning is in a configuration of more than one adjective in a row. In that case, the endings should be the same, either inflectional or emphatic:

A combination of an adjective with an inflectional and an adjective with an emphatic suffix is not allowed, as shown in (5):

Actually, as emphasis may be assumed to be an instance of inherent inflection, it could be expected that adjectives with an emphatic ending will show the common prenominal inflection. This is not borne out, however. Inflected forms like *skerpene sharp-EMP-INFL or *ferskuorrendene terrible-EMP-INFL do not exist. More about this subject may be found in the topic about adjectives.

It is pointed out in the topic on prenominal adjectival inflection that there are cases of apparently inflected adjectives which on closer inspection are not. One example mentioned is the expression myn hiele libben my whole life, where the ending -e is unexpected. It appears that it is not inflection that is at stake here, but that the ending is an expression of emphasis. As the emphatic suffix -e is homophonous with the adjectival inflectional suffix -e, the emphatic one can only be discovered in configurations with zero inflection, i.e. before neuter nouns and after indefinite determiners or possessive pronouns. The examples below always show such a context.

The emphatic suffix -e occurs in four contexts:

1. Adjectives that describe a totality, in particular the adjective hiel whole. Some examples are shown in (7):
   Example 7

   
   

   a.	Myn hiele boesgroentsje sit ûnder de ferve
   	my whole-EMP shirt.N sits under the paint
   	My entire shirt has got dirty with paint

   b.	Hiele Ljouwert wie op 'e lappen
   	whole-EMP Leeuwarden.N was on the rags
   	All of Leeuwarden was up and about

   The difference with ordinary inflection emerges clearly in a case like myn hiel(e) boesgroentsje my whole-(EMP) shirt. Emphatic myn hiele boesgroentsje my whole-EMP shirt.N means my entire shirt. On the other hand, inflectional myn hiel boesgroentsje my whole shirt refers to an intact, i.e. not in tatters, shirt.
2. Adjectives that exclude alternatives. A typical instance is klear pure, possibly reinforced with the element baar. Examples are:
   Example 8

   
   

   a.	It is kleare sâlt wat se hjir op 'e dyk struie
   	it is pure-EMP sâlt.N what they here on the road sprinkle
   	It is pure salt that is sprinkled on this road

   b.	It is klearebare kraanwetter wat yn dy fleskes sit
   	it is pure-EMP tap water.N what in those bottles-DIM-PL sits
   	It is pure tap water that is in those bottles

   Note also the meaning difference between emphatic kleare wetter pure water and inflectional klear wetter clear water.
3. In expressions indicating a very high degree. An example is:
   Example 9

   
   

   ús hege rjocht

   our high-EMP right.N

   our high right

4. Finally, the ending may be found after adjectives that express a strong feeling:
   Example 10

   
   

   ús leave heitelân

   our dear-EMP father-land.N

   our dear country

   Also in a vocative:
   Example 11

   
   

   earme sloof

   poor-EMP drudge.N

   poor drudge