Adverb / Adjective A2 — Elementary /ˈver.i/

Very — Definition, Examples & Usage

One of the most common words in English — simple to use, but easy to overuse.

Quick Definition

Very is used as an adverb meaning to a high degree or extremely, and as an adjective meaning actual or precise. Example: She was very pleased with her progress in English this term.

What Does Very Mean?

Very comes from the Old French verai (meaning “true” or “genuine”), which itself derived from the Latin verus (“true”). In early Middle English the word meant “real” or “actual” — a sense that survives today in phrases such as “the very beginning” or “at this very moment”. By the 14th century, very had extended its meaning to work as an intensifier, equivalent to “to a high degree”, and this is now its dominant use.

As an adverb, very modifies adjectives and adverbs, boosting their strength: “very cold”, “very quickly”, “very well-known”. As an adjective, it precedes a noun to emphasise its exact identity or significance: “the very person I was looking for”, “her very first lesson”.

Understanding when to use very — and when to replace it with a stronger, more precise adjective — is an important milestone for ESL learners moving beyond A2 level.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevelUsage note
The coffee is very hot, so be careful. A2 very + adjective — basic intensifier in everyday context
She was very pleased with her progress in English this term. B1 very + past-participial adjective; natural in school reports and feedback
That is the very problem we have been trying to solve all week. B1 very as adjective meaning “exact” or “precise”; stresses identity
The results of the experiment were very different from what the team had expected. B2 very in academic/formal sentence structure; pairs with gradable adjective
From the very outset of her career, she demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to public service. C1 very as adjective before a noun in a formal, written register; emphasises “from the start”

Collocations

CollocationExample
very goodThat is a very good point.
very wellShe speaks English very well.
very muchI very much appreciate your help.
very importantTime management is very important at university.
very likelyIt is very likely that the train will be delayed.
very firstThis is the very first time I have visited London.
very sameWe arrived on the very same day as the storm.
very lastHe finished the exam to the very last second.
very beginningFrom the very beginning, the project was ambitious.
very endShe stayed until the very end of the ceremony.

Usage Notes

How to Use Very Correctly

With gradable adjectives and adverbs: Very is used only with gradable words — words that can exist in degrees. “Very cold”, “very carefully”, “very tall” are all natural. Do not use very with absolute adjectives such as perfect, unique, or impossible — these cannot be intensified with degree adverbs.

With comparatives: Never use very before a comparative form. Say much better or far more interesting, not very better or very more interesting. Use very only with the base form of the adjective.

Very much with verbs: When you need to intensify a verb, use very much rather than very alone: “I very much enjoyed the lecture.” Using very directly before a verb (“I very enjoyed it”) is a common learner error.

Register awareness: Very is neutral and appropriate in all registers. In formal academic writing, however, editors often advise replacing very + adjective with a single stronger synonym: very tired → exhausted; very happy → delighted; very big → enormous.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

I very like this city. (never use very directly before a main verb)

I really like this city. / I like this city very much.

The situation is very unique. (unique is an absolute adjective; it cannot be graded)

The situation is truly unique. / The situation is quite unusual.

This method is very better than the old one. (never use very with a comparative)

This method is much better than the old one.

Very thanks for your help. (very cannot precede nouns or noun phrases)

Many thanks for your help. / Thank you very much for your help.

Related Words

really extremely highly particularly exceedingly quite rather fairly absolutely completely totally utterly

Synonyms (Adverb Use)

extremely highly remarkably considerably greatly immensely terribly (informal) awfully (informal)

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “very”

What does very mean in English?
Very is most commonly used as an adverb meaning ‘to a high degree’ or ‘extremely’. For example: ‘The exam was very difficult.’ It is also used as an adjective meaning ‘actual’ or ‘precise’, as in ‘That is the very answer I was looking for.’ Both uses are extremely common in spoken and written British English.
Is very an adverb or an adjective?
Very is both. As an adverb it modifies adjectives and other adverbs: ‘very happy’, ‘very quickly’. As an adjective it means ‘actual’ or ‘precise’ and modifies nouns: ‘the very beginning’, ‘this very moment’. The adverb use is far more common in everyday English.
What is the difference between very and really?
Both very and really intensify adjectives and adverbs, but really is slightly more informal and more common in spoken English. ‘Very’ is neutral and suits all registers, including formal writing. ‘Really’ can also mean ‘in reality’ or ‘truly’, which gives it an extra layer of meaning: ‘Is she really a doctor?’ cannot be replaced with ‘very’.
Can very be used with comparative adjectives?
No. Very cannot modify comparative adjectives. Do not say ‘very better’ or ‘very more interesting’. Use ‘much’ or ‘far’ instead: ‘much better’, ‘far more interesting’. Very is used only with base-form adjectives and adverbs: ‘very good’, ‘very fast’.
What words can replace very in formal writing?
In formal or academic writing, alternatives to very include: extremely, highly, particularly, exceedingly, considerably, remarkably, and substantially. These words often sound more precise and professional than very. For example, instead of ‘very important’ you might write ‘particularly significant’ or ‘extremely relevant’.
What is the origin of the word very?
Very comes from the Old French ‘verai’ (true, genuine), which derived from Latin ‘verus’ (true). In early Middle English it meant ‘true’ or ‘real’, as still seen in the adjective use: ‘the very truth’. The intensifying adverb sense (‘to a high degree’) developed gradually from the 14th century onwards and is now by far the dominant usage.
Is very overused in English writing?
Many writing guides advise reducing very in formal writing because it can weaken rather than strengthen a sentence. Instead of ‘very tired’, consider ‘exhausted’; instead of ‘very happy’, try ‘delighted’. However, very is perfectly natural in spoken English, informal writing, and at lower CEFR levels where simpler vocabulary is appropriate.
How do you use very in a sentence?
Place very directly before the adjective or adverb you want to intensify: ‘The lesson was very clear.’ / ‘She spoke very confidently.’ As an adjective, very precedes a noun and is usually preceded by a determiner: ‘at the very end’, ‘on this very day’. Avoid placing very before verbs — use ‘really’ or ‘very much’ for verbs instead.
What is the difference between very and quite?
In British English, quite has two meanings depending on the adjective that follows. With gradable adjectives, quite means ‘fairly’ or ‘moderately’: ‘quite good’ means less than very good. With absolute adjectives, quite means ‘completely’: ‘quite perfect’. Very, by contrast, always means ‘to a high degree’ and is unambiguous. American English uses quite differently, often meaning ‘very’.
How can I practise using very correctly in English?
Try LexFizz’s Complete the Sentence exercise to choose the right intensifier in context, or use the Vocabulary Quiz to test your understanding of very, quite, really, and extremely. Keeping a vocabulary notebook with example sentences for each intensifier is also a very effective study technique.