1. VERY, REALLY AND EXTREMELY
We use these before the word we wish to intensify. They make it ‘more’.
‘Very’ and ‘really’ arealmost equal. ‘Extremely’ is stronger.
WithAdjectives
We can use these intensifiers with adjectives alone or with adjective + noun:
He is a very interesting person ORthat person is very interesting
It is a really funny film OR that film is really funny
Canada has extremely cold wintersOR the winter in Canada is extremely cold
WithAdverbs
She handled the meeting very/really/extremely professionally
Really can be seen as quite informaland we prefer to use very with adverbs.
[Itis possibleto say ‘really very’ (although not common): It was a really very
good presentation.]
Very, very is possiblebut very informal.
Other intensifiers that are similar to extremely are:
Incredibly
Exceptionally
Remarkably
Crazy (very informal)
WithVerbs
We can only usereally to intensify verbs:
I really wantto go to see the new Spielberg film.
Itis also possibleto use ‘a lot’ but this needs to be at the end of the phrase,
NOT after the verb:
WRONG: I like a lot thatgirl.
CORRECT: I like that girl a lot.