very

とても、非常に

性質や状態を表す言葉の前につけ、その程度を強める。

やさしい英語で： Used before a describing word to make its meaning stronger.

• The water is very cold.
• She spoke very slowly.
• Were you very tired after the journey?

使い方： very + adjective/adverb (The children played very quietly.)

類義語： really, extremely

よく使う表現： very good, very tired, very quickly

まさに、本当に

最高、最悪、最初など、まさにその極端な位置にあることを強調する。

やさしい英語で： Used to stress that something is the best, worst, first, or another extreme.

• This is the very best cake.
• She caught the very last train.
• He was the very youngest person on the team.

使い方： the very + superlative/first/last (They gave us the very best room.)

類義語： absolutely

よく使う表現： the very best, the very first, the very least

いかにも、実に

名前や名詞の前につけ、その人や物らしい特徴が強く出ていることを表す。

やさしい英語で： Used before a name or noun to say something strongly shows that person's or thing's typical qualities.

• That hat is very you.
• The dry humor felt very British.
• Her new apartment is very New York.

使い方： very + pronoun/name/noun used descriptively (That bright scarf is very you.)

類義語： typically, characteristically

よく使う表現： very you, very british, very london

まさにその、同じ

似た別のものではなく、話題になっているまさにその人や物。

やさしい英語で： The exact person or thing being discussed, rather than another similar one.

• We met in this very room.
• She is the very person I wanted to see.
• They returned to the very same hotel.

使い方： the very + noun (This is the very desk my grandfather used.)

類義語： exact, same, actual

よく使う表現： the very same, the very person, the very place, the very one

だけの、ただの

考えたり口にしたりするだけで、ある反応が起こることを強調する。

やさしい英語で： Used to stress that simply thinking about or mentioning something is enough to cause a reaction.

• The very idea made me laugh.
• The very sight of blood frightened her.
• His face brightened at the very mention of home.

使い方： the very + noun + of something (The very thought of flying makes him nervous.)

類義語： mere

よく使う表現： the very idea, the very thought, the very mention