Level 06 – Step 05 : Emphasis with really / very / so — He is really smart. She is very gentle.
/Level 06 – Step 05 : Emphasis with really / very / so — He is really smart. She is very gentle.
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to make words stronger using really, very, and so.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to make words stronger using really, very, and so.
🐧Igupen: Do they all mean the same thing?
/🐧Igupen: Do they all mean the same thing?
🦉Professor Owl: They all make a quality stronger, but we use them a little differently.
/🦉Professor Owl: They all make a quality stronger, but we use them a little differently.
We will practice each one with short examples.
/We will practice each one with short examples.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What are words for emphasis?
/What are words for emphasis?
Emphasis words make an adjective or adverb stronger.
/Emphasis words make an adjective or adverb stronger.
Common small words are really, very, and so.
/Common small words are really, very, and so.
very gives a clear, strong degree: She is very gentle.
/very gives a clear, strong degree: She is very gentle.
really adds emphasis and sounds natural in speech: He is really smart.
/really adds emphasis and sounds natural in speech: He is really smart.
so is strong and often shows emotion or surprise: The cake is so delicious!
/so is strong and often shows emotion or surprise: The cake is so delicious!
How to use them
/How to use them
Put the emphasis word before an adjective or adverb: really nice, very fast, so quiet.
/Put the emphasis word before an adjective or adverb: really nice, very fast, so quiet.
Don’t use more than one emphasis word together.
/Don’t use more than one emphasis word together.
very is more formal than really; really is common in speaking; so often feels emotional.
/very is more formal than really; really is common in speaking; so often feels emotional.
When to be careful
/When to be careful
Don’t overuse them in writing; they are great for spoken English and simple descriptions.
/Don’t overuse them in writing; they are great for spoken English and simple descriptions.
Some adjectives are absolute (unique, perfect) and emphasis words don’t usually work well with them.
/Some adjectives are absolute (unique, perfect) and emphasis words don’t usually work well with them.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Choose the feeling you want: neutral strong → use very; natural spoken emphasis → use really; strong emotion or surprise → use so.
/Choose the feeling you want: neutral strong → use very; natural spoken emphasis → use really; strong emotion or surprise → use so.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 He is really smart.
/No.01 He is really smart.
No.02 She is very gentle.
/No.02 She is very gentle.
No.03 The soup is so hot.
/No.03 The soup is so hot.
No.04 That movie was really exciting.
/No.04 That movie was really exciting.
No.05 The test was very difficult.
/No.05 The test was very difficult.
No.06 I’m so happy today.
/No.06 I’m so happy today.
No.07 This book is really interesting.
/No.07 This book is really interesting.
No.08 The room is very clean.
/No.08 The room is very clean.
No.09 The dog is so friendly.
/No.09 The dog is so friendly.
No.10 She sings really well.
/No.10 She sings really well.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Choose the best word: The weather is _____ cold. A) really B) so C) very
/Q1: Choose the best word: The weather is _____ cold. A) really B) so C) very
Q2: Fill in the blank with really / very / so: The puzzle was _____ easy.
/Q2: Fill in the blank with really / very / so: The puzzle was _____ easy.
Q3: Choose the best word for surprise: That cake is _____ good! A) very B) really C) so
/Q3: Choose the best word for surprise: That cake is _____ good! A) very B) really C) so
Q4: True or False: You can say “very unique.”
/Q4: True or False: You can say “very unique.”
Q5: Fill in the blank: He runs _____ fast. (natural spoken emphasis)
/Q5: Fill in the blank: He runs _____ fast. (natural spoken emphasis)
Q6: Choose correct sentence: A) She is so very kind. B) She is very kind.
/Q6: Choose correct sentence: A) She is so very kind. B) She is very kind.
Q7: Replace the blank with an emphasis word: The music is _____ loud. (strong but neutral)
/Q7: Replace the blank with an emphasis word: The music is _____ loud. (strong but neutral)
Q8: Which is better for formal writing? A) really B) very C) so
/Q8: Which is better for formal writing? A) really B) very C) so
Q9: Fill in the blank: I am _____ excited to go! (strong emotion)
/Q9: Fill in the blank: I am _____ excited to go! (strong emotion)
Q10: Choose the best word: That was _____ helpful; thank you. A) so B) very C) really
/Q10: Choose the best word: That was _____ helpful; thank you. A) so B) very C) really
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: C) very.
/A1: C) very.
A2: very → The puzzle was very easy.
/A2: very → The puzzle was very easy.
A3: C) so.
/A3: C) so.
A4: False.
/A4: False.
A5: really → He runs really fast.
/A5: really → He runs really fast.
A6: B) She is very kind.
/A6: B) She is very kind.
A7: very → The music is very loud.
/A7: very → The music is very loud.
A8: B) very.
/A8: B) very.
A9: so → I am so excited to go!
/A9: so → I am so excited to go!
A10: C) really.
/A10: C) really.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Good job.
/🦉Professor Owl: Good job.
Try choosing one emphasis word and use it naturally in three short sentences today.
/Try choosing one emphasis word and use it naturally in three short sentences today.
🐧Igupen: I will practice with food, friends, and places.
/🐧Igupen: I will practice with food, friends, and places.
🦉Professor Owl: That practice will make your speaking clear and expressive.
/🦉Professor Owl: That practice will make your speaking clear and expressive.
Keep going — small words can make big feelings.
/Keep going — small words can make big feelings.
