ˈveri Adverb People Information Present Incident Impressed I

• very few people know that.
• we have very little information at present on the incident.
• thanks very much.
• i'm not very (= not at all) impressed.

very

1. used before adjectives, adverbs and determiners to mean ‘in a high degree’ or ‘extremely’
• Very few people know that.
• We have very little information at present on the incident.
• Thanks very much.
• I'm not very (= not at all) impressed.
• I'm very very grateful.
• Things could have been so very different.
• Australia has a very good reputation for producing high-quality grain.
• This is a very important part of our marketing.
• very small
• very quickly
• ‘Do you like it?’ ‘Yeah, I do. Very much.’
• ‘Is it what you expected?’ ‘Oh yes, very much so.’
• My children are still very young.
• ‘Are you busy?’ ‘Not very.’
• The new building has been very much admired.
• very hard/difficult
• very popular/happy/successful
• These results are very worrying.
• We were obviously very pleased with the outcome.
• I find the film very upsetting to watch.
2. used to emphasize a superlative adjective or before own
• They wanted the very best quality.
• Be there by six at the very latest.
• At last he had his very own car (= belonging to him and to nobody else).
• It's the very worst time to be trying to sell your house.
3. exactly the same
• Mario said the very same thing.

Word Origin

• Middle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘real, genuine’): from Old French verai, based on Latin verus ‘true’.