Grammar﹕very, very much
【明報專訊】Bill and Dr Panda have just watched a film. What do they think about it?
Bill: We finally watched it! I'd waited for it for a (1) very long time since the last film in the series.
MoMo: Yes, and this film is (2) very inspiring. I like the female lead star. She is a versatile actress.
Bill: I've seen her in other films. I think she does better this time than in the romantic comedy last year. (3) I enjoyed her acting very much.
MoMo: (4) But I don't like the ending very much. The director's interpretation is (5) very different from the original novel.
◆Now you try
(Answers on next text)
Rewrite the following sentences with "very" or "very much".
1. I am grateful for your help.
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2. Jane doesn't like chocolates.
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3. It is a brave thing to do.
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4. He did badly in the exam.
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■NOW Showing
"Very" and "very much" are intensifiers that mean "in a higher degree" or "extremely".
very
We use "very" before adjectives and adverbs.
e.g. He looks very lazy and
does not work very hard. (ˇ)
He looks lazy very much.(╳)
very much
"Very much" is used after verbs or verb phrases.
e.g. I admire Peter
very much.(ˇ)
I very admire Peter. (╳)
■Glossary
series (n) 系列
inspiring (adj) 鼓舞人心的
versatile (adj) 多才多藝的
interpretation (n) 演繹、解釋
[Smarties' Power English 第212期]