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I Very Like vs I Really Like | Common English Mistakes | On Your Mark's English

An infographic showing "I very like it" crossed out in red and "I really like it" / "I like it very much" checked in green to show correct English word order.
A guide to fixing the "I very like it" mistake in English.

Many English learners want to express that they have a strong feeling about something. Because "very" makes adjectives stronger (like very happy or very cold), it is natural to want to say "I very like it."

However, in English, "very" does not work with verbs.


The Problem 💡

The word "very" is an intensifier for adjectives, not verbs.

If you put it before a verb like "like," it sounds incorrect to a native speaker.


The Two Solutions ✅


1. Use "Really"

If you want to put a word before the verb, use really. It works exactly the same way "very" does with adjectives.

  • "I really like your new car."

  • "She really wants to go to London."


2. Use "Very Much"

If you want to use the word "very," you must move it to the end of the sentence and add "much."

  • "I like your new car very much."

  • "We like the teacher very much."


Pro Tip! ✨

"Really like" is much more common in casual conversation.

"Very much" can sound a little bit more formal.


Your Turn

Let's practice! What is one food that you really like?

Write your answer in the comments down below!


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