Level 02 – Step 08 : Emphasis with very really so (He is very brave.She is really kind.)
/Level 02 – Step 08 : Emphasis with very really so (He is very brave.She is really kind.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to make feelings and descriptions stronger with words like very, really, and so.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to make feelings and descriptions stronger with words like very, really, and so.
🐧Igupen: Are those words just for saying something is stronger?
/🐧Igupen: Are those words just for saying something is stronger?
🦉Professor Owl: Yes.
/🦉Professor Owl: Yes.
They help show how strong an adjective or feeling is.
/They help show how strong an adjective or feeling is.
Listen and try the examples.
/Listen and try the examples.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What does it mean to emphasize with very, really, so?
/What does it mean to emphasize with very, really, so?
• These words make adjectives or adverbs stronger.
/• These words make adjectives or adverbs stronger.
• Use them before adjectives or adverbs: very tall, really happy, so good.
/• Use them before adjectives or adverbs: very tall, really happy, so good.
Quick guide to differences
/Quick guide to differences
• very = common, clear increase (He is very brave.)
/• very = common, clear increase (He is very brave.)
• really = slightly stronger or more natural in speech (She is really kind.)
/• really = slightly stronger or more natural in speech (She is really kind.)
• so = strong, often emotional or surprised (That movie was so funny!)
/• so = strong, often emotional or surprised (That movie was so funny!)
Where to place emphasis words
/Where to place emphasis words
• Put them directly before the word they modify: very tired, really fast.
/• Put them directly before the word they modify: very tired, really fast.
• Do not put them before articles or nouns alone: say very careful not very the careful.
/• Do not put them before articles or nouns alone: say very careful not very the careful.
When not to use them
/When not to use them
• Avoid overusing; too many emphasis words make writing weak.
/• Avoid overusing; too many emphasis words make writing weak.
• Some adjectives pair better with other words: very unique is usually avoided; instead say truly unique or simply unique.
/• Some adjectives pair better with other words: very unique is usually avoided; instead say truly unique or simply unique.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Choose the emphasis word that matches your feeling: use very for facts, really for natural speech, and so for strong emotion.
/Choose the emphasis word that matches your feeling: use very for facts, really for natural speech, and so for strong emotion.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 He is very brave.
/No.01 He is very brave.
No.02 She is really kind.
/No.02 She is really kind.
No.03 That cake is so good.
/No.03 That cake is so good.
No.04 I am very tired.
/No.04 I am very tired.
No.05 This book is really interesting.
/No.05 This book is really interesting.
No.06 The test was so hard.
/No.06 The test was so hard.
No.07 They are very careful.
/No.07 They are very careful.
No.08 It was really cold yesterday.
/No.08 It was really cold yesterday.
No.09 The game is so exciting.
/No.09 The game is so exciting.
No.10 She runs very fast.
/No.10 She runs very fast.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Try each item, then check the answers at the end.
/Note: Try each item, then check the answers at the end.
Q1: Choose the best emphasis: He is ___ brave. A) so B) really C) very
/Q1: Choose the best emphasis: He is ___ brave. A) so B) really C) very
Q2: Which sentence shows strong emotion? A) The party was really fun. B) The party was so fun. C) The party was very fun.
/Q2: Which sentence shows strong emotion? A) The party was really fun. B) The party was so fun. C) The party was very fun.
Q3: Fix the weak phrase: very unique → _____
/Q3: Fix the weak phrase: very unique → _____
Q4: Fill in the blank: I am ___ tired after practice. (choose: very / so / the)
/Q4: Fill in the blank: I am ___ tired after practice. (choose: very / so / the)
Q5: Choose the natural spoken form: She is ___ kind. A) very B) really C) so
/Q5: Choose the natural spoken form: She is ___ kind. A) very B) really C) so
Q6: Which is correct? A) He is very always careful. B) He is always very careful. C) He is always so careful.
/Q6: Which is correct? A) He is very always careful. B) He is always very careful. C) He is always so careful.
Q7: Decide which emphasis fits: The movie surprised me; it was ___ good. (very / really / so)
/Q7: Decide which emphasis fits: The movie surprised me; it was ___ good. (very / really / so)
Q8: Rewrite to stronger feeling: The test was hard. → The test was _____.
/Q8: Rewrite to stronger feeling: The test was hard. → The test was _____.
Q9: Which is NOT recommended: A) very unique B) truly unique C) unique
/Q9: Which is NOT recommended: A) very unique B) truly unique C) unique
Q10: Choose the best pair: ___ cold and ___ tired. A) very; very B) so; really C) really; so
/Q10: Choose the best pair: ___ cold and ___ tired. A) very; very B) so; really C) really; so
Answers
/Answers
A1: C very
/A1: C very
A2: B The party was so fun.
/A2: B The party was so fun.
A3: Use truly unique or simply unique
/A3: Use truly unique or simply unique
A4: very → I am very tired after practice.
/A4: very → I am very tired after practice.
A5: B really
/A5: B really
A6: B He is always very careful.
/A6: B He is always very careful.
A7: really or so (use so for stronger surprise)
/A7: really or so (use so for stronger surprise)
A8: The test was so hard.
/A8: The test was so hard.
A9: A very unique
/A9: A very unique
A10: A very; very
/A10: A very; very
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Good job today.
/🦉Professor Owl: Good job today.
Emphasis words help your meaning shine, but use them with care.
/Emphasis words help your meaning shine, but use them with care.
Try writing five sentences using very, really, and so—notice how each word changes the feeling.
/Try writing five sentences using very, really, and so—notice how each word changes the feeling.
Keep practicing and your English will feel more natural and expressive.
/Keep practicing and your English will feel more natural and expressive.
