Shadowing Practice: Stop Using "Very" in English Conversations | Real English Conversation Podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Welcome, welcome!
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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.
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I am Sarah, and I am so excited to be here with you today.
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And I am John.
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This episode is going to be really useful, I promise.
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Haha, yes.
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And John, before we start, I want to say something.
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Today's topic is one that I personally needed to learn.
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It changed the way I speak English completely.
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Hmm, really?
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Okay, now I'm curious.
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So everyone, today we are talking about one very small word, a word that almost every English learner uses too much,
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and that word is very.
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But before we explain why, John, we have a very big reason to celebrate with our amazing audience on Facebook today.
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Thank you so much, everyone!
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Now, Sarah, let's get back to our topic and talk about why we shouldn't use very too much.
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Ah, yes, very.
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We say very good, very happy, very tired, very big, very small, very, very, very, all the time.
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Exactly.
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And listen, using very is not wrong.
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It is a correct English word.
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But when you use it in every single sentence, your English starts to sound basic and a little boring.
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Yes, native speakers have so many better, stronger words that they use instead of very plus adjective.
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And today, we're going to teach you those words.
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So by the end of this episode, you will sound more natural, more confident, and much more impressive in English.
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Let's go!
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Okay, John, let me ask you something first.
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Why do learners use very so much?
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Why is it such a habit?
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Hmm, great question.
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I think it is because very is one of the first words we learn in English.
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Our teachers say if something is more than normal, just add very.
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Very big, very nice, very cold, and it works.
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It's easy and everybody understands.
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Ah, yes.
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So we learn it early and then we just keep using it.
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It becomes automatic.
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Exactly.
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But the problem is, as you get better at English, you want to express yourself more precisely.
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You want people to really feel what you're saying.
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And very good does not give the same feeling as excellent or fantastic or brilliant.
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Hmm, that is so true.
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Like, imagine your friend cooks dinner for you.
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It's the most delicious meal you have ever eaten.
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And you say, this food is very good.
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How does that sound?
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It sounds so flat, so ordinary, like the food was just okay.
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Exactly.
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But if you say, this food is absolutely delicious, or this is outstanding, your friend feels so happy.
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The words carry so much more feeling.
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Yes, the right word does all the work.
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You do not need very when you choose a stronger word.
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Perfect.
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So let's start learning these stronger words, and we'll replace very plus adjective with one powerful word instead.
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Great.
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Let's start with a very common one.
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Very tired.
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Instead of saying, I'm very tired, you can say, I'm exhausted.
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Say it with me.
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Exhausted.
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Exhausted.
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And this word means extremely tired, like your whole body has no energy left.
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For example, I worked 12 hours today.
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I'm exhausted.
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Can we please just go home?
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Yes, I've said that many times.
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Okay, next one.
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Very happy.
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Instead of very happy, say, thrilled or overjoyed.
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For example, she got the job she wanted.
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She is absolutely thrilled.
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Ah, thrilled.
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That word has so much energy in it.
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You can feel the happiness when you say thrilled.
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Much better than very happy.
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Right.
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Now let's try very cold.
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Instead of very cold, say freezing.
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For example, I went outside without my jacket this morning.
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It was freezing.
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I couldn't feel my fingers.
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Haha, oh, I know that feeling.
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Freezing is so perfect for that.
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You say it and people immediately feel the cold.
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Yes.
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Next, very big.
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Instead of very big, say enormous or huge or massive.
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For example, have you seen that new shopping mall?
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It's enormous.
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I walked for one hour and still didn't see everything.
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Ah, enormous.
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That gives you a real picture in your head.
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Very big doesn't do that in the same way.
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Exactly.
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Okay, now very small.
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Instead of very small, say tiny.
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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.
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Tiny apartment.
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I know that life.
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Okay, what about very good?
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This is probably the most overused one.
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Yes, very good can be replaced with so many words.
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Excellent, brilliant, outstanding, fantastic, superb, wonderful.
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For example, your presentation today was outstanding.
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Everyone in the room was impressed.
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Ah, outstanding.
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That word makes you feel proud.
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Very good.
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Just sounds like a teacher giving you an average mark.
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But outstanding, wow.
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Exactly.
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Okay, very bad.
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Instead of very bad, you can say terrible, awful, dreadful, or horrible.
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For example, the traffic this morning was terrible.
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It took me two hours to go 10 kilometers.
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Hmm, terrible traffic.
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Yes, we all know that feeling.
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Terrible is so much stronger than very bad.
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And very fast.
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Instead of that, say rapid or quick or lightning fast.
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For example, the new train between the two cities is rapid.
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The journey takes only 30 minutes now.
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Ah, rapid.
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That sounds so much more professional and natural.
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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.
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Hmm, breathtaking.
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That's such a powerful word.
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It means so beautiful that it almost takes your breath away.
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Yes.
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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.
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Yes.
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Okay, real-life example number one.
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My friend Lena is learning English.
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She went on a trip to the beach last summer.
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When she came back, everyone asked, how was it?
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And she said it was very nice, and the water was very blue, and the food was very good.
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Hmm, that's okay.
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We understand her.
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But how does it sound?
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Flat, like reading a list.
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Now, after she learned stronger words, she said the same experience differently.
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She said it was absolutely gorgeous.
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The water was crystal clear, and the food was outstanding.
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We had the most wonderful time.
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Ah, what a difference.
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Same trip, same feelings, but completely different energy.
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The second version makes you want to go to that beach immediately.
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Exactly.
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Real-life example number two, my younger brother had a job interview last month.
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He was very nervous.
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Afterwards, he told me, the questions were very hard and I was very scared, but I think I did very well.
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Hmm, okay, I understand him, but it sounds like a child talking, not a professional.
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Right.
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Now, with stronger words, he could say, The questions were incredibly challenging and I was terrified, but I think I performed brilliantly.
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Doesn't that sound so much more confident?
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Ah, yes.
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Terrified instead of very scared.
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Challenging instead of very hard.
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Brilliantly instead of very well.
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Every word is doing real work.
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Exactly!
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And real life example number three, this one is from a classroom.
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A student is writing about his weekend for his teacher.
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He writes, I had a very good weekend.
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The weather was very sunny.
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We went to a very big park and ate very delicious food.
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Oh, that essay.
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Every sentence has very in it.
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The teacher reads five words and already feels tired.
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Yes.
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But if the student writes, I had a wonderful weekend.
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The weather was gloriously sunny.
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We went to an enormous park and ate absolutely delicious food.
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The teacher smiles.
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The essay has life.
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So much better.
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And the student shows the teacher, I know more words.
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I am growing.
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Yes.
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Using stronger words shows your vocabulary is improving.
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It is a sign of a better English speaker.
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Hmm.
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That is so motivating.
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OK, now let us do our useful phrases section.
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Yes.
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Phrase number one, less is more.
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This means sometimes using fewer words or simpler things gives a better result.
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In English, using one strong word is better than saying very plus a weak word.
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Less is more.
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Love it.
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Phrase number two, choose your words carefully.
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This means think before you speak or write.
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Do not just grab the first word that comes.
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Ask yourself, is there a better word?
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Choose your words carefully.
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Ah, great one.
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Phrase number three, paint a picture with words.
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This means use language that helps people see and feel what you are describing.
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When you say breathtaking instead of very beautiful, you paint a picture.
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Hmm, I love that phrase, paint a picture with words.
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Phrase number four, expand your vocabulary.
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This means learn new words every day and use them.
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For example, try to expand your vocabulary by learning two new words every morning.
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Great advice.
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And phrase number five, practice makes perfect.
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You know this one, but it is so true here.
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The more you use these new words, exhausted, stunning, enormous, terrified, the more natural they will feel.
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Practice makes perfect.
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Always true.
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So our five phrases today, less is more, choose your words carefully, paint a picture with words, expand your vocabulary, and practice makes perfect.
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Okay, friends, we are at the end of today's episode.
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Quick recap.
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Stop using very in every sentence.
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Replace very tired with exhausted, very happy with thrilled, very cold with freezing,
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very big with enormous, very small with tiny, very good with excellent or outstanding,
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very bad with terrible, very beautiful with stunning.
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And our five phrases, less is more, choose your words carefully, paint a picture with words, expand your vocabulary, and practice makes perfect.
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And our real-life examples showed us stronger words make you sound more confident and natural.
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What a great episode.
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Your challenge this week, every time you want to say very something, stop and think of one stronger word.
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Try it today.
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And also check out the pinned comment below.
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We have left some challenges there for you.
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We love reading your comments.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and share this episode with a friend who is also struggling with very.
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Yes, you do not have to be perfect.
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Just keep trying.
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We are so proud of you.
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Ah, truly.
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Thank you for being here.
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Until next time, keep learning and speak with confidence.
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You are listening to the Native English Podcast.
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Brought to you by Native English Stories.
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I'm John.
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And I'm Sarah.
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Take care, everyone.
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See you in the next episode.
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Bye!
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice enhancing your English vocabulary and fluency by learning to avoid overusing the word “very.” While it's a common word many English learners rely on, substituting it with stronger adjectives will not only make your speech more impactful but will also help you sound more like a native speaker. Throughout this lesson, you will discover alternative words to use instead of “very” and learn how to incorporate these into your everyday conversations.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Very good - Instead, say excellent
- Very happy - Use thrilled or overjoyed
- Very tired - Consider exhausted or weary
- Very big - Replace with huge or enormous
- Very small - Opt for tiny or petite
- Very interesting - Try fascinating or captivating
- Very cold - Use frigid or chilly
Practice Tips
To effectively implement the skills you learn in this lesson, consider using the shadowing technique. This method involves listening to the conversation in the podcast and then trying to repeat what you hear, imitating the speed and intonation of the speakers. The goal is to enhance your shadow speech abilities, which includes improving your English pronunciation. Here are some specific tips:
- Start by listening to short chunks of dialogue. Pause after each segment and repeat what you've heard.
- Focus on mimicking the natural tone and rhythm of the speakers, paying attention to the emotions conveyed through their voice.
- To enrich your vocabulary use, practice substituting “very” with the alternatives mentioned earlier while shadowing. This will help reinforce your learning and make it second nature.
- Regularly engage in practice sessions using this shadowing site or similar resources, dedicating at least 15-20 minutes daily to maximize learning.
By integrating these strategies into your language practice, you will not only improve your conversational skills but also gain the confidence to express yourself more vividly in English.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.