تدريب Shadowing: Stop Using "Very" in English Conversations | Real English Conversation Podcast - تعلم التحدث بالإنجليزية عبر الفيديو

Welcome, welcome!

You are listening to the Native English Podcast brought to you by Native English Stories, the podcast that helps you speak better English every single day.

I am Sarah, and I am so excited to be here with you today.

And I am John.

Hello, everyone.

Whether you are on the bus, walking in the park, or sitting with a cup of tea, we are so glad you tuned in today.

This episode is going to be really useful, I promise.

Haha, yes.

And John, before we start, I want to say something.

Today's topic is one that I personally needed to learn.

It changed the way I speak English completely.

Hmm, really?

Okay, now I'm curious.

So everyone, today we are talking about one very small word, a word that almost every English learner uses too much,

and that word is very.

But before we explain why, John, we have a very big reason to celebrate with our amazing audience on Facebook today.

Oh, yes.

Wow.

We just reached 10,000 followers on Facebook.

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Yes!

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Right!

Your stars help us keep making these simple English episodes for you, so please keep supporting us.

Thank you so much, everyone!

Now, Sarah, let's get back to our topic and talk about why we shouldn't use very too much.

Ah, yes, very.

We say very good, very happy, very tired, very big, very small, very, very, very, all the time.

Exactly.

And listen, using very is not wrong.

It is a correct English word.

But when you use it in every single sentence, your English starts to sound basic and a little boring.

Yes, native speakers have so many better, stronger words that they use instead of very plus adjective.

And today, we're going to teach you those words.

So by the end of this episode, you will sound more natural, more confident, and much more impressive in English.

Let's go!

Okay, John, let me ask you something first.

Why do learners use very so much?

Why is it such a habit?

Hmm, great question.

I think it is because very is one of the first words we learn in English.

Our teachers say if something is more than normal, just add very.

Very big, very nice, very cold, and it works.

It's easy and everybody understands.

Ah, yes.

So we learn it early and then we just keep using it.

It becomes automatic.

Exactly.

But the problem is, as you get better at English, you want to express yourself more precisely.

You want people to really feel what you're saying.

And very good does not give the same feeling as excellent or fantastic or brilliant.

Hmm, that is so true.

Like, imagine your friend cooks dinner for you.

It's the most delicious meal you have ever eaten.

And you say, this food is very good.

How does that sound?

It sounds so flat, so ordinary, like the food was just okay.

Exactly.

But if you say, this food is absolutely delicious, or this is outstanding, your friend feels so happy.

The words carry so much more feeling.

Yes, the right word does all the work.

You do not need very when you choose a stronger word.

Perfect.

So let's start learning these stronger words, and we'll replace very plus adjective with one powerful word instead.

Great.

Let's start with a very common one.

Very tired.

Instead of saying, I'm very tired, you can say, I'm exhausted.

Say it with me.

Exhausted.

And this word means extremely tired, like your whole body has no energy left.

For example, I worked 12 hours today.

I'm exhausted.

Can we please just go home?

Yes, I've said that many times.

Okay, next one.

Very happy.

Instead of very happy, say, thrilled or overjoyed.

For example, she got the job she wanted.

She is absolutely thrilled.

Ah, thrilled.

That word has so much energy in it.

You can feel the happiness when you say thrilled.

Much better than very happy.

Right.

Now let's try very cold.

Instead of very cold, say freezing.

For example, I went outside without my jacket this morning.

It was freezing.

I couldn't feel my fingers.

Haha, oh, I know that feeling.

Freezing is so perfect for that.

You say it and people immediately feel the cold.

Yes.

100

Next, very big.

101

Instead of very big, say enormous or huge or massive.

102

For example, have you seen that new shopping mall?

103

It's enormous.

104

I walked for one hour and still didn't see everything.

105

Ah, enormous.

106

That gives you a real picture in your head.

107

Very big doesn't do that in the same way.

108

Exactly.

109

Okay, now very small.

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Instead of very small, say tiny.

111

For example, my first apartment in the city was tiny.

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The kitchen, the bedroom, the living room, all in one little space.

113

Tiny apartment.

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I know that life.

115

Okay, what about very good?

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This is probably the most overused one.

117

Yes, very good can be replaced with so many words.

118

Excellent, brilliant, outstanding, fantastic, superb, wonderful.

119

For example, your presentation today was outstanding.

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Everyone in the room was impressed.

121

Ah, outstanding.

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That word makes you feel proud.

123

Very good.

124

Just sounds like a teacher giving you an average mark.

125

But outstanding, wow.

126

Exactly.

127

Okay, very bad.

128

Instead of very bad, you can say terrible, awful, dreadful, or horrible.

129

For example, the traffic this morning was terrible.

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It took me two hours to go 10 kilometers.

131

Hmm, terrible traffic.

132

Yes, we all know that feeling.

133

Terrible is so much stronger than very bad.

134

And very fast.

135

Instead of that, say rapid or quick or lightning fast.

136

For example, the new train between the two cities is rapid.

137

The journey takes only 30 minutes now.

138

Ah, rapid.

139

That sounds so much more professional and natural.

140

And one more, very beautiful.

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Instead of that, say stunning or gorgeous or breathtaking.

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For example, we went to the mountains last weekend.

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The view was absolutely breathtaking.

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I just stood there and couldn't speak.

145

Hmm, breathtaking.

146

That's such a powerful word.

147

It means so beautiful that it almost takes your breath away.

148

Yes.

149

Okay, so now let's look at some real-life examples.

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Situations where people used very and then switched to a stronger word, because this is where the learning really happens.

151

Yes.

152

Okay, real-life example number one.

153

My friend Lena is learning English.

154

She went on a trip to the beach last summer.

155

When she came back, everyone asked, how was it?

156

And she said it was very nice, and the water was very blue, and the food was very good.

157

Hmm, that's okay.

158

We understand her.

159

But how does it sound?

160

Flat, like reading a list.

161

Now, after she learned stronger words, she said the same experience differently.

162

She said it was absolutely gorgeous.

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The water was crystal clear, and the food was outstanding.

164

We had the most wonderful time.

165

Ah, what a difference.

166

Same trip, same feelings, but completely different energy.

167

The second version makes you want to go to that beach immediately.

168

Exactly.

169

Real-life example number two, my younger brother had a job interview last month.

170

He was very nervous.

171

Afterwards, he told me, the questions were very hard and I was very scared, but I think I did very well.

172

Hmm, okay, I understand him, but it sounds like a child talking, not a professional.

173

Right.

174

Now, with stronger words, he could say, The questions were incredibly challenging and I was terrified, but I think I performed brilliantly.

175

Doesn't that sound so much more confident?

176

Ah, yes.

177

Terrified instead of very scared.

178

Challenging instead of very hard.

179

Brilliantly instead of very well.

180

Every word is doing real work.

181

Exactly!

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And real life example number three, this one is from a classroom.

183

A student is writing about his weekend for his teacher.

184

He writes, I had a very good weekend.

185

The weather was very sunny.

186

We went to a very big park and ate very delicious food.

187

Oh, that essay.

188

Every sentence has very in it.

189

The teacher reads five words and already feels tired.

190

Yes.

191

But if the student writes, I had a wonderful weekend.

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The weather was gloriously sunny.

193

We went to an enormous park and ate absolutely delicious food.

194

The teacher smiles.

195

The essay has life.

196

So much better.

197

And the student shows the teacher, I know more words.

198

I am growing.

199

Yes.

200

Using stronger words shows your vocabulary is improving.

201

It is a sign of a better English speaker.

202

Hmm.

203

That is so motivating.

204

OK, now let us do our useful phrases section.

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Yes.

206

Phrase number one, less is more.

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This means sometimes using fewer words or simpler things gives a better result.

208

In English, using one strong word is better than saying very plus a weak word.

209

Less is more.

210

Love it.

211

Phrase number two, choose your words carefully.

212

This means think before you speak or write.

213

Do not just grab the first word that comes.

214

Ask yourself, is there a better word?

215

Choose your words carefully.

216

Ah, great one.

217

Phrase number three, paint a picture with words.

218

This means use language that helps people see and feel what you are describing.

219

When you say breathtaking instead of very beautiful, you paint a picture.

220

Hmm, I love that phrase, paint a picture with words.

221

Phrase number four, expand your vocabulary.

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This means learn new words every day and use them.

223

For example, try to expand your vocabulary by learning two new words every morning.

224

Great advice.

225

And phrase number five, practice makes perfect.

226

You know this one, but it is so true here.

227

The more you use these new words, exhausted, stunning, enormous, terrified, the more natural they will feel.

228

Practice makes perfect.

229

Always true.

230

So our five phrases today, less is more, choose your words carefully, paint a picture with words, expand your vocabulary, and practice makes perfect.

231

Okay, friends, we are at the end of today's episode.

232

Quick recap.

233

Stop using very in every sentence.

234

Replace very tired with exhausted, very happy with thrilled, very cold with freezing,

235

very big with enormous, very small with tiny, very good with excellent or outstanding,

236

very bad with terrible, very beautiful with stunning.

237

And our five phrases, less is more, choose your words carefully, paint a picture with words, expand your vocabulary, and practice makes perfect.

238

And our real-life examples showed us stronger words make you sound more confident and natural.

239

What a great episode.

240

Your challenge this week, every time you want to say very something, stop and think of one stronger word.

241

Try it today.

242

And also check out the pinned comment below.

243

We have left some challenges there for you.

244

We love reading your comments.

245

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and share this episode with a friend who is also struggling with very.

246

Yes, you do not have to be perfect.

247

Just keep trying.

248

We are so proud of you.

249

Ah, truly.

250

Thank you for being here.

251

Until next time, keep learning and speak with confidence.

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You are listening to the Native English Podcast.

253

Brought to you by Native English Stories.

254

I'm John.

255

And I'm Sarah.

256

Take care, everyone.

257

See you in the next episode.

258

Bye!

ما هي تقنية التظليل الصوتي؟

التظليل الصوتي (Shadowing) تقنية تعلم لغة مدعومة علمياً، طُورت أصلاً لتدريب المترجمين الفوريين المحترفين. الطريقة بسيطة لكنها قوية: تستمع لصوت إنجليزي أصلي وتكرره فوراً بصوت عالٍ — كظل يتبع المتحدث بتأخير 1-2 ثانية. تُظهر الأبحاث تحسناً كبيراً في دقة النطق والتنغيم والإيقاع وربط الأصوات والاستماع والطلاقة.

تدريب Shadowing: Stop Using "Very" in English Conversations | Real English Conversation Podcast - تعلم التحدث بالإنجليزية عبر الفيديو

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