English Lesson: Very or Really?

Very is used as an adverb to modify an adjective. The structure is very + adjective, and the meaning is the same as quite:

  • Jack is very tall and is a good basketball player. Jack is quite tall…
  • I think Casablanca is a very interesting movie. Casablanca is quite interesting…
  • It is very cool this morning, so please put on a jacket. It is quite cool…

Really is also used as an adverb to modify an adjective. The structure is really + adjective, and the meaning is the same as very:

  • Jack is really tall and is a good basketball player. Jack is very tall…
  • I think Casablanca is a really interesting movie. Casablanca is very interesting…
  • It is really cool this morning, so please put on a jacket. It is very cool…

Really can also be used to modify a verb. The structure is really + verb. There are two possible meanings when using really + verb, so let’s look at them.

Really meaning “very” or “extremely

  • Jack really likes to play basketball.  Jack likes playing basketball very much.
  • It is really cool this morning, so please put on a jacket.

Really meaning “genuinely” or “truly”

  • Hollywood really makes some interesting movies. Not, Hollywood very makes…
  • Jack is really a nice guy. Everyone likes him.

How about studying English with Michael or Jackie? We are available for private English lessons in New York, and online via Skype. Also, check out Michael’s newest book & audio podcasts, 109 Phrasal Verbs

English Lesson & Quiz: Using So & Such

It has been such a mild winter

This has been such a warm week. It was so warm today, that I saw people walking on Broadway wearing just T-shirts. It’s hard to believe it is really February. It was so cold last winter, and we had so much snow. However this year, we have had so little snow or rain. I heard on the news that scientists are saying that since we have had such a mild winter, we may have a lot more insects this summer. That’s not so good!  

So and such have similar meanings, but are used differently. Do you know how to use these words? Have a look at the paragraph above and then check your understanding with the quiz at the end of the lesson.

We use so with adjectives to mean “very”. The structure is [so]+[adjective]. Here are some examples:

  • It was so warm today, that I saw people walking on Broadway wearing just T-shirts.
  • It was so cold last winter in New York.
  • I’m so happy you are studying with me here

We use such with adjectives before nouns to mean “very”. The structure is [so]+[adjective]+[noun]. Here are some examples:

  • This has been such a warm week.
  • We had such a mild winter this year.
  • My sister Lori is such a busy person.

If you can remember these two patterns, you will be ok. Try the quiz below and check your understanding

So vs Such Quiz

Congratulations - you have completed So vs Such Quiz.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

What's the result? Well, %%RATING%%


Your answers are highlighted below.
Question 1
Greg is __________ nice. He always helps people out.
A
such
B
so
Question 2
This was __________ a hot curry, but I liked it.
A
so
B
such
Question 3
Do you like her dress? I heard it was __________ expensive.
A
such
B
so
Question 4
I’ve never eaten something __________ spicy.
A
such
B
so
Question 5
Tommy is __________ a nice guy.
A
such
B
so
Question 6
My sister’s boyfriend took __________ a big risk when he started his own company.
A
such
B
so
Question 7
Jake works 24/7. I’ve never met anyone __________ busy.
A
such
B
so
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English One-Point Lesson: Hard vs Hardly

The exam was hard, because he hardly studied!

In many cases, adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding “ly” with the same meaning. For example, strong & strongly both have the same meaning, of course with a different usage. However, hard and hardly have a completely different meaning. Let’s look at these words today.

Hard is an adjective, which has a few different meanings:

  • Yesterday’s exam was hard (difficult).
  • A diamond is very hard (solid/firm).
  • Working in construction is hard work (requires a lot of effort).

Hard is also an adverb, which also has a few different meanings:

  • My student’s work very hard (using a lot of effort).
  • Look! It’s raining hard (with a lot of force).

Hardly is an adverb, which also has a few different meanings, and very much different from hard:

  • I hardly slept last night (I scarcely slept).
  • Joe was in the office all day but he hardly worked (He barely worked).

Let’s compare these two sentences:

  • Joe works hard (This is a positive statement about Joe. He uses his effort when he works).
  • Joe hardly works (This is a negative statement about Joe. He scarcely/barely uses any effort).

So, how about you? Do you work hard, or do you hardly work? Thanks for studying today!


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  • The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
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  • A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.

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English Lesson & Quiz: Using Too

This Thai curry was too spicy!

It’s pretty cold here in New York today. For me, it’s too cold. And it’s raining, which I guess is better than snow. Last winter there was too much snow, and too many snow storms. Because we had a cold winter last year, the snow melted too slowly. So far this winter it has only snowed once. I love the warmer weather, but spring is too far away. There is too much time between now and the warm days of spring in New York.

We use too to talk about situations where there is more (or sometimes less) of something than what we want or need. Do you know how to use this word? Have a look at the paragraph above and then check out today’s lesson.

We use too to show that there is more (or sometimes less) of something than what we want or need. If you use too, it shows that you are not satisfied about that situation, so too is often used when we complain. There are three patterns that you’ll need to memorize, so let’s look at these patterns and some examples:

Pattern #1. Use too + adjective. Too works like very – it makes the adjective’s meaning stronger. However, the nuance is that you are not satisfied and/or complaining about the situation. Let’s compare too and very:

  • It’s very cold today. This just means it is quite cold.
  • It’s too cold today.  This means it is quite cold and the speaker is not happy about that situation.

Here are some more examples:

  • I can’t go to the gym today because I’m too tired.
  • Emily wanted to go there, but she said it was too far.
  • I don’t like the color you used to paint the room. It’s too dark.

Pattern #2. In a similar way as Pattern #1, we use too + adverb:

  • The snow melted too slowly.
  • The new teacher speaks too quickly.
  • Traffic is moving too slowly this morning.

If you want to emphasize your feeling, you can use much + too + adjective & much + too + adverb” Here are some examples:

  • I can’t go to the gym today because I’m much too tired.
  • Emily wanted to go there, but she said it was much too far.
  • I don’t like the color you used to paint the room. It’s much too dark.
  • The snow melted much too slowly.
  • The new teacher speaks much too quickly.
  • Traffic is moving much too slowly this morning.

Pattern #3. Use too + many + countable noun & too + much + non-countable noun. Here are some examples:

  • There were too many snow storms.
  • Nicole said she has too many bills to pay this month.
  • Last winter there was too much snow.
  • There is too much time between now and the warm days of spring in New York.

Thanks for studying with me today. Can you remember the four patterns? Check yourself with this quiz:

 

Using Too

Congratulations - you have completed Using Too. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. What's the result? Well, %%RATING%%
Your answers are highlighted below.
Question 1
The questions on the quiz show go ______________.
A
too quickly
B
too much quickly
C
too quick
Question 2
There was ______________ this week. The street flooded twice.
A
too much rain
B
too rain
C
too many rains
Question 3
I heard her vacation was nice, but it was ______________.
A
too much expensive
B
much too expensive
C
expensive too much
Question 4
Jack said he is ______________ to leave the office now.
A
much too busy
B
busy too much
C
too much busy
Question 5
That guy on the train has his headphones on ______________.
A
too much loudly
B
too loud
C
too loudly
Question 6
The curry was tasty, but ______________ for me.
A
much too spicy
B
too much spicy
C
too many spicy
Question 7
She bought ______________. How can we eat them all?
A
many bananas.
B
too much bananas.
C
too many bananas
Question 7 Explanation: 
If you say "She bought many bananas" it would be strange to say "How can we eat them all?" in the next sentence.
Question 8
She was speaking ______________. It was hard to hear her.
A
much too quietly
B
much too quiet
C
too much quiet
Question 9
There are ______________ in the subways here.
A
too much delay
B
too much delays
C
too many delays
Question 10
Those books are ______________ for her to carry.
A
heavy too much
B
too much heavy
C
much too heavy
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NEW for 2012! 109 Phrasal Verbs – 116-page eBook
Including…

  • The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
  • How to USE the phrasal verb.
  • The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
  • EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
  • A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.

Just $5!
Would you like a FREE 15-page sample? Click here for more information.