Common Errors in English - Very

very
adverb
1
BAD: He looked very funny that I couldn't help laughing.
GOOD: He looked so funny that I couldn't help laughing.
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so + adjective/adverb + that clause: 'The music was so loud that I started to get a headache.'
2
BAD: I enjoyed very much my stay in the USA.
GOOD: I enjoyed my stay in the USA very much.
BAD: I would like very much to visit some of the places that I have been reading about.
GOOD: I would very much like to visit some of the places that I have been reading about.
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Do not put very much between a verb (e.g 'enjoyed') and its object (e.g. 'my stay in the USA'). When the object is short, very much goes at the end of the sentence or in front of the verb. When the object is long, very much usually goes in front of the verb: 'I very much hope that you and your family have a safe journey.'
3
BAD: It costs very much.
GOOD: It costs a lot (of money).
BAD: New doors cost very much because wood is so expensive.
GOOD: New doors cost a lot (of money) because wood is so expensive.
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With some verbs (e.g. cost, pay, charge, eat ) it is possible to use very much in questions and negative sentences: 'Did it cost very much?' 'It didn't cost very much.'
However, in affirmative sentences very much is usually replaced by a lot : 'It will cost quite a lot to have the job done properly.'
4
BAD: Meno Park in Central Tokyo is very huge.
GOOD: Meno Park in Central Tokyo is (absolutely) huge.
BAD: The traffic jams are very terrible.
GOOD: The traffic jams are (absolutely) terrible.
BAD: I'm very convinced that he is telling the truth.
GOOD: I'm (absolutely) convinced that he is telling the truth.
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Do not use very or extremely with adjectives which already have a strong meaning, e.g. boiling (= very hot), convinced (= very sure), exhausted (= very tired), huge (= very big), terrible (= very bad). If you want to increase the strength of these words, use absolutely or (depending on the particular adjective) completely, totally, utterly or quite : 'By the time I got home I was completely exhausted.'
With adjectives which do not have a strong meaning, use very or extremely (NOT absolutely, completely etc ): 'By the time I got back home I was very tired.'
5
BAD: Their services are very appreciated by the hospital management.
GOOD: Their services are greatly appreciated by the hospital management.
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Very may be used with past participles that are like adjectives and refer to a state: 'very bored/worried/interested/pleased'.
Past participles with a strongly passive meaning are usually modified by greatly or (very) much : 'His work is much admired.' 'This courageous woman, who helped so many of us, will be greatly missed.'
6
See LOVE (↑love)
7
BAD: Although he was very in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry a rich heiress.
GOOD: Although he was very much in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry a rich heiress.
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Very is not used before a phrase beginning with a preposition (e.g. 'in love with', 'in need of', 'at odds with'). However, in such cases it is often possible to use very much : 'These proposals are very much in keeping with the President's own ideas.'
Note the alternative: 'Although he was deeply in love ...'