Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Speak Smart: Drop "Very" and Use These Words Instead! (D–L)


Do you want a subtle but effective way to demonstrate your English communicative skills? Refine your word choice. Instead of using the word “very” to emphasize the extremity of an adverb or adjective, use single-word adjectives that have the same meaning.

Don’t know what words to use in place of adding “very” before an adverb or adjective? This article can help you out. Below is a list of useful alternative adjectives. Practice integrating them into your speech and writings during your CELPIP Manila classes to enhance your test performance.


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What to use instead of “very”
Examples
very dirty
filthy, grimy
Why are your clothes very dirty?
Why are your clothes filthy?
very dull
tedious, boring
The meeting was very dull and uneventful.
The meeting was tedious and uneventful.
very evil
wicked, nasty
Due to his looks, few people believed he was capable of committing the very evil deeds.
Due to his looks, few people believed he was capable of committing the wicked deeds.
very exciting
exhilarating, astonishing
The magic show was very exciting.
The magic show was exhilarating.
very fancy
lavish, opulent, extravagant
Why didn’t you tell me the venue was very fancy? Now I feel underdressed.
Why didn’t you tell me the venue was lavish? Now I feel underdressed.
very fast
swift, quick
He was very fast for a beginner.
He was quick for a beginner.
very frightening
terrifying, alarming
The waters rose at a very frightening rate.
The waters rose at an alarming rate.
very funny
hilarious, humorous
The look on her face when she found out about the prank was very funny.
The look on her face when she found out about the prank was hilarious.
very glad/happy
overjoyed, ecstatic
He was very happy with his test results.
He was ecstatic with his test results.
very good
excellent, exceptional
Fortunately, he found a very good CELPIP Manila review program.
Fortunately, he found an excellent CELPIP Manila review program.
very hard
difficult, challenging
It is a very hard problem.
It is a difficult problem.
very hard-to-find
rare, uncommon, singular
True friends are very hard-to-find.
True friends are rare.
very hot
sweltering, torrid, scorching
The room was very hot due to the broken air conditioner.
The room was sweltering due to the broken air conditioner.
very huge
colossal, gigantic
The sign is very huge. There’s no way you won’t notice it.
The sign is gigantic. There’s no way you won’t notice it.
very hungry
starving, ravenous
I didn’t have breakfast. So, I’m very hungry.
I didn’t have breakfast. So, I’m starving.
very important
crucial, essential, critical
You play a very important role in the play.
You play a crucial role in the play.
very interesting
captivating, fascinating
The lecture is surprisingly very interesting.
The lecture is surprisingly fascinating.
very kind
compassionate, considerate
He was very kind to his people.
He was compassionate to his people.
very lazy
idle, indolent, apathetic
The manager told me that you’re all very lazy when it comes to paperwork. Is that true?
The manager told me that you’re all idle when it comes to paperwork. Is that true?
very little
tiny, minuscule
The change is very little. The guests won’t notice it.
The change is minuscule. The guests won’t notice it.


Show off your mastery of the language with on-point word choice. Drop the word “very” from your vocabulary and rely on these adjectives to convey extreme connotations. Want to learn more ways to supercharge your speech and writings for the high-stakes exam? Enroll in a JRooz CELPIP review center Philippines.

References:

Wong, Kristin. “This Infographic Lists 128 Words You Can Use Instead of “Very.” Life Hacker. June 29, 2016. Accessed October 16, 2018. http://lifehacker.com/this-infographic-lists-128-words-you-can-use-instead-of-1782748063

Frost, Jennifer. “147 Words to Use Instead of “Very” (Infographic).” Grammar Check. November 21, 2016. Accessed October 16, 2018. http://www.grammarcheck.net/very/

“128 Words to Use Instead of "Very".” Proof Reading Services. Accessed October 16, 2018. https://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/very

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