As an expert in the field of linguistics, I can provide a comprehensive answer to your question regarding the use of the word "very" in the English language. The word "very" is indeed versatile, and its role in a sentence can vary depending on the context in which it is used.

In English, "very" is primarily used as an adverb to modify adjectives and other adverbs, intensifying their meaning. It is used to express a high degree or extent of a quality. For example, in the sentences "It had been a long day and he was very tired," "I always walk very quickly," and "She writes very well," the word "very" is serving as an adverb to intensify the adjectives "tired," "quickly," and "well," respectively.

However, "very" can also be used in a different sense, and this is where the distinction between its usage as an adverb and an adjective becomes subtle. In some contexts, "very" can precede a noun to mean "the most complete or exact" or "the most important or notable." This usage is less common and can be considered a specialized form of the word. For instance, in the sentences "They went down to the very bottom of the sea" and "The car exploded before my very eyes," "very" is used to emphasize the directness or the immediacy of the experience.

It is important to note that the use of "very" as an adjective is not standard in modern English. The examples provided, such as "They went down to the very bottom of the sea," are more accurately described as instances where "very" is used as an adverb modifying the noun phrase "the bottom of the sea," rather than directly modifying the noun "bottom." The same applies to "The car exploded before my very eyes," where "very" is modifying the noun phrase "my eyes" to emphasize the immediacy of the event.

In summary, "very" is predominantly an adverb in English, used to intensify adjectives and other adverbs. Its use as an adjective, as suggested in the examples, is not standard and is more accurately viewed as an adverbial intensifier modifying a noun phrase.

read more >>

as an adverb (before adjectives and adverbs): It had been a long day and he was very tired.I always walk very quickly.She writes very well. as an adjective (only before a noun): They went down to the very bottom of the sea.The car exploded before my very eyes.read more >>