1. 用作形容词,只用于名词前作定语,不用作表语,其意为“正是”、“恰是”,通常要与 the, this, that, my, your 等连用。如:
You are the very man I want to see. 你正是我想要见的人。
At that very moment the phone rang. 就在那时电话铃响了。
2. 用作副词,表示“很”、“非常”,注意以用法:
(1) 主要用来修饰形容词或副词的原级,但不能修饰比较级。如:
这本书便宜得多。
正:This book is much cheaper.
误:This book is very cheaper.
注:very 不能修饰比较级,但有时可用来修饰最高级(放在定冠词之后)。如:
This is the very best dictionary. 这是最最好的词典。
但是 very 通常不修饰由 most 构成的最高级。
(2) 用于修饰 own, first, last, next, same 等词,加强语气。如:
She was wearing the very same shoes as me. 他与我穿的鞋子完全一样。
You can keep this for your very own. 你可以把这个留作你自己用。
I found the sentence on the very next page. 我就在下一页找到了这个句子。
(3) 某些表语形容词通常不用 very 修饰。如:
误:very asleep / very awake / very alone
正:fast asleep / wide awake / all alone
(4) 不要根据汉语意思用 very 去修饰动词。如:
我们很喜欢这个小男孩。
正:We like the boy very much.
误:We very like the boy.
我很想留在这儿。
正:I want to stay here very much.
误:I very want to stay here.
我会非常想念你们的。
正:I shall miss you very much.
误:I shall very miss you.