VOCABULARY THAT NATIVE SPEAKERS USE IN ENGLISH

Summary

The video script discusses a common mistake made by English language learners: overusing the word 'very.' The speaker explains that 'very' is a weak word as it doesn't add significant meaning to sentences and can make speech or writing seem less professional, especially in academic essays where space is limited. To improve language skills, the video suggests replacing 'very' with more expressive adjectives, such as 'splendid,' 'terrific,' 'adorable,' or 'exhausted,' to convey more precise emotions. The speaker also shares personal strategies for enhancing pronunciation and offers a course link for further American accent training. The video concludes with a challenge for viewers to practice by replacing 'very' with a single, stronger word in a comment, emphasizing the importance of active learning and engagement.

Takeaways

• 📝 The video discusses a common mistake made by English language learners: overusing the word 'very'.
• 🔍 'Very' is considered a weak word because it magnifies an adjective without adding extra meaning.
• 📚 In writing, especially essays with word limits, using 'very' frequently can waste valuable space.
• 💼 Overuse of 'very' can make speech or writing appear unprofessional due to its simplicity.
• 🆚 The video contrasts two sentences to illustrate the impact of replacing 'very' with stronger adjectives.
• 🇺🇸 Americans often describe clothing layers and weather conditions without using 'very', adding more descriptive words instead.
• 🐶 Provides examples of common phrases that include 'very' and suggests more expressive alternatives.
• 📝 Advises against using 'very' in formal writing or academic essays to maintain a professional tone.
• 🗣️ Suggests focusing on pronunciation and reducing reliance on 'very' to improve speech clarity and accent.
• 📈 Recommends using synonyms and descriptive words to replace 'very' and enhance the expressiveness of language.
• 📝 Encourages viewers to practice by writing comments, replacing 'very' with a single, more descriptive word.

Q & A

What is the common mistake discussed in the video that English language learners often make?

The common mistake discussed is the overuse of the word 'very' when speaking or writing in English.

Why is the word 'very' considered a weak word in English?

The word 'very' is considered weak because it doesn't add any extra meaning but merely magnifies the adjective it's used with, without providing additional information or nuance.

What is the impact of using 'very' frequently in an essay with a word limit?

Using 'very' frequently in an essay can waste valuable space, as it doesn't contribute to the word count effectively, and it can make the writing seem less professional due to the use of simple vocabulary.

How does the video suggest improving the sentence 'I am wearing a lot of layers today because it's very cold outside'?

The video suggests using the word 'freezing' instead of 'very cold' to make the sentence 'I am wearing a lot of layers today because it's freezing outside', which adds more emotional color and is more descriptive.

What are some alternative words to 'very good' suggested in the video?

Some alternatives to 'very good' include 'splendid', 'excellent', 'terrific', 'great', 'brilliant', and 'wonderful'.

How does the video suggest describing a dog instead of saying 'very cute'?

Instead of 'very cute', one could use words like 'adorable', 'admirable', or 'lovely' to describe a dog.

What is the purpose of the American pronunciation course mentioned in the video?

The American pronunciation course is designed to help individuals improve their American accent by focusing on specific sounds and pronunciation techniques.

What are some phrases that can replace 'very tired' according to the video?

Phrases that can replace 'very tired' include 'exhausted', 'sleepy', 'distressed', and 'worn out'.

How does the video suggest enhancing the phrase 'very clean'?

The video suggests using the word 'spotless' instead of 'very clean' to enhance the phrase.

What homework does the video presenter assign to the viewers?

The presenter asks viewers to write a comment with a phrase that includes 'very' plus a word, and then to replace 'very' with a single, stronger word.

What is the benefit of replacing 'very' with stronger adjectives as suggested in the video?

Replacing 'very' with stronger adjectives can improve the quality of speech or writing, making it more expressive and concise, and it can help to convey more thoughts with fewer words.

What is the final advice given by the video presenter to the viewers?

The final advice is to subscribe to the channel, engage with the content by liking the video, and to participate in the intensive class for further learning.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Overusing 'Very' in English Speech

The video discusses a common mistake made by English language learners, which is the frequent use of the word 'very'. The speaker explains that 'very' is a weak word as it doesn't add significant meaning to the adjective it modifies, such as 'very tired' or 'very beautiful'. The video suggests that using 'very' excessively can waste space in writing, particularly in essays where word count is limited, and it can make speech or writing appear less professional. The speaker provides alternatives to 'very', such as 'splendid', 'excellent', 'brilliant', and 'wonderful', to add more emotional color and depth to language without using excessive words.

05:00

📝 Enhancing Language with Stronger Adjectives

The second paragraph continues the discussion on improving English language skills by replacing 'very' with more expressive and precise adjectives. The speaker gives examples of how to enhance sentences by using words like 'adorable', 'admirable', and 'lovely' instead of 'very cute'. The video also touches on the importance of pronunciation, especially for non-native speakers, and how focusing on specific sounds can improve speech. The speaker shares personal experience with an American pronunciation course and encourages viewers to practice by repeating certain words fast to train the mouth for correct sounds. Synonyms for 'very' such as 'extremely', 'highly', 'awfully', 'super', and 'terribly' are provided to diversify speech. The video concludes with a homework task for viewers to practice by replacing 'very' with a single word in a comment, emphasizing the importance of active learning.

Keywords

💡Mistake

A 'mistake' refers to an error or incorrect action. In the context of the video, it is used to highlight the common linguistic error of overusing the word 'very' in English language communication. The script mentions that this is an 'easy mistake to make' and the video aims to help viewers correct this habit.

💡Adjective

An 'adjective' is a word or phrase that describes a noun or pronoun. The video emphasizes that 'very' is often used to intensify adjectives but does not add unique meaning. For example, 'very tired', 'very beautiful', and 'very nice' are mentioned, illustrating how 'very' simply amplifies without enhancing the description.

💡Space

'Space' in this video script metaphorically refers to the word count or the textual 'real estate' in writing. It is mentioned in the context of writing essays where the overuse of 'very' can consume valuable space that could be better utilized with more precise and impactful language.

💡Professional

'Professional' denotes a standard or level of competence expected in a formal or work-related context. The script suggests that using 'very' can make speech or writing seem less professional because it reflects a reliance on simple vocabulary.

💡Synonym

A 'synonym' is a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language. The video provides synonyms for 'very' to enrich language use, such as 'splendid', 'terrific', 'adorable', and 'exhausted', offering alternatives to avoid the overuse of 'very'.

💡Accent

An 'accent' refers to a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, region, or social class. The script mentions the presenter's native language accent and the importance of training specific sounds to improve pronunciation, which is a separate but related aspect of language mastery.

💡Intensive course

An 'intensive course' implies a concentrated educational program designed to cover content in a shorter period with a focus on depth and detail. The video mentions an 'intensive course in American pronunciation' that the presenter took to improve her accent, suggesting it as a resource for viewers to consider.

💡Pronunciation

'Pronunciation' is the way in which a word is pronounced. The script discusses the importance of correct pronunciation, especially for non-native speakers, and provides examples of how to practice specific sounds to improve one's accent.

💡Chorus

In the context of the video, 'chorus' seems to refer to a repeated element or theme, possibly relating to the repeated practice of sounds in pronunciation training. It is mentioned in the script as something that 'talks about different sounds and how to pronounce them'.

💡Diversify

'Diversify' means to make something more varied by including different types of things. In relation to the video's theme, it is used to encourage the use of a wider range of vocabulary instead of relying on 'very', thus enriching one's speech or writing.

💡Homework

In the script, 'homework' is used in the context of an exercise or task for the viewers to practice what they've learned. The presenter assigns 'homework' as a way to engage viewers in actively applying the advice given in the video to improve their language use.

Highlights

The video discusses a common mistake made by English language learners: overusing the word 'very'.

The word 'very' is considered weak because it doesn't add extra meaning to the adjective it modifies.

Using 'very' excessively can waste space in writing, especially when word limits are applied, such as in university essays.

The video aims to help viewers reduce the use of 'very' and improve their speech and writing.

Comparing two sentences shows the difference in impact when 'very' is replaced with a stronger adjective like 'freezing'.

The phrase 'very good' can be replaced with alternatives like 'splendid', 'fantastic', 'great', 'terrific', 'lit', 'excellent', and 'brilliant'.

The word 'adorable' can be used instead of 'very cute' to enhance vocabulary and express more with fewer words.

The video provides examples of how to replace 'very' with more specific and descriptive words for various contexts.

The speaker shares personal experience with using 'very' and the motivation to improve language by reducing its usage.

A course on American pronunciation is recommended for those wishing to improve their accent, with a link provided in the video description.

The video suggests training mouth muscles to pronounce specific sounds correctly, which can help reduce reliance on 'very'.

Alternatives to 'very cold' include 'freezing', 'chilly', 'frosty', and 'as cold as ice'.

For expressing tiredness, one can use 'exhausted', 'sleepy', 'distressed', or 'drained' instead of 'very tired'.

The word 'spotless' can replace 'very clean' to convey the same meaning with more precision.

Synonyms for 'very' such as 'extremely', 'highly', 'awfully', 'super', 'terribly', 'usually', and 'unusually' can enrich speech.

The video assigns a task to viewers to practice replacing 'very' with one-word synonyms in the comments section.

The video concludes with an invitation to subscribe to the channel and join an intensive class for further language improvement.

Transcripts

hey guys welcome to my channel today

we're going to talk about a mistake in

English language that I still make that

you make like every English language

learner makes it a lot because it's an

easy mistake to make and this is when we

use the word very too many times when we

talk so if you're interested how to get

rid of this mistake please continue

watching this video

[Music]

very itself is a very weak word because

it doesn't add any extra sense very

tired very beautiful very nice it's just

magnifies the adjective that you're

using but it doesn't add anything extra

and it's just taking out your space very

very very bad bad and when you're

writing an essay for your university for

example you're normally limited to like

500 words and if you use very in every

single sentence then you're taking a lot

of space out of your essay and it

doesn't make your speech to look too

professional because again you're using

very simple vocabulary so this video is

gonna help you get rid of the word very

very before we start just compare at

these two sentences I am wearing a lot

of layers today because it's very cold

outside I am wearing a little lace

turday because it's freezing outside you

see how different two sentences are who

you think by the way when you want to

describe when you're wearing on a cold

day Americans and British people would

normally say I'm wearing a lot of layers

meaning that you're wearing a t-shirt

then a sweater there may be another

sweater and then a coat under this car

and there were four layers of petticoats

so you're wearing a lot of layers and

just you notice that emotional color

that my sentence gets when I'm using

freezing instead of very cold and I'm

gonna give you some examples for other

phrases that you use the most used

phrase in every single ESL student

speech is a very good this is a very

good class this is a very good dress

this is a very good City now how can we

replace it instead of saying very good

you can say it's splendid

it's planning it's great it's great it's

terrific it's terrific you can also say

it's lit the party was lip-to-lip and

this is a spoken English word so don't

use it in essays but in America it's

very widely used especially among young

people your grades are excellent

excellent

this movie is brilliant this is absolute

brilliant this is a wonderful job

wonderful job on Russia brach

you see how many emotions I'm adding

when every place very with a stronger

adjective another example here in

America especially in San Francisco

people love dogs and I think the city

has more dogs than children and whenever

I walk outside I made a cute dog and all

of the dogs are really well trained so

they would approach you and jump on you

and lick you and I would always say your

dog is very cute and I'm tired of this

phrase myself because this is like a

really limited vocabulary and there are

so many words that I can use instead for

instance this is also like for me guys

right now because I really want to get

rid of this very cute phrase I can say

your dog is adorable adorable yes I can

also use the word admirable admirable

and I can also say your dog is lovely

lovely

instead of saying very cute all the time

the only situation when I allow myself

to say very is when I'm training to

sounds but and what sometimes I speak

too fast I just stop concentrating on

the way I'm pronouncing sounds and it is

really important for me because I still

have this accent for my native language

so after taking our intensive course in

American pronunciation I told myself

marina

you're gonna concentrate on these two

sounds by the way if you want to take

the course the link will be below if

this is the best course in American

accent I've ever taken and it's really

helpful and you can see my progress hey

so I get it very weak he's very rich

right I'm training these two sounds very

wise I have a very wide circle very warm

it's um it's very warm in here try them

like pause this video right now and try

saying them really fast very weak very

white very warm and just train your

mouth to do the right sounds to produce

the results and this is what the chorus

is about we talk about different sounds

and how to pronounce them like where to

put your tongue and how to open your

mouth something that I also use very

often when I'm in Russia very cold as

I've already mentioned we can substitute

with freezing freezing

we can say it's chilly outside it's

chilly we can say it's frosty frosty and

we can also say for example Russia is as

cold as ice

meaning that pressure is really really

cold when you're retired

instead of saying very tired you can say

Salah stead I'm exhausted exhausted you

can say sleepy sleepy you can say

distressed distress right and if you

want to say that something is very clean

you can say spotless spotless you see

how my speech is improving when I'm

replacing the word berry and how it adds

more details you actually use less words

but you express more thoughts with just

one word if you're stuck right now and

if you're like oh but how do I say very

beautiful

I forgot this word that marina mentioned

I forgot the synonym there is another

tip for you you can still use the word

beautiful but you can replace very with

other words like extremely extremely

beautiful you're looking extremely

beautiful highly highly competitive

highly competitive and awfully awfully

cold

Jesse Cote super which is also like very

spoken super friendly super nice super

cute super cute terribly terribly nice

this can be both negative and positive

terribly nice terribly hot terribly nice

guy and usually and usually smart and

usually beautiful unusually hot mm-hmm

so there are many ways you can diversify

your speech and my task to you your

homework is to write down a comment

below with very plus something and

replace this with just one word this is

a great task for you guys because when

you are learning something you it's not

enough to just listen to it it's also

very important to do something with your

hands so your brain remembers what's the

right way I hope this video was useful

for you guys if you want to train your

American accent just like I did the link

will be below please join the course

it's it will be like one of the best

courses you've taken and this is the

course that my friend and I created

together pure now yes subscribe to this

channel hits

red button here right here the red one

and if you enjoyed this content like

this video I'm looking forward to

getting your comments guys and I'm

looking forward to seeing you in our

intensive class thank you so much and

see you very soon bye bye