In English there are lots of other ways of saying very or very much. For example, we can use words such highly, utterly, bitterly, deeply. These alternatives collocate strongly with specific words, and other combinations often sound unnatural.
A. Highly
+ (un)likely, unusual, successful, competitive, profitable, effective, controversial, recommended
Highly is used with some probability words (likely, unusual). With the exception of highly controversial, it usually combines with very positive words.
It is highly unlikely that I’ll finish my work on time.
Jill’s highly unusual behaviour began to worry her parents.
B. Absolutely, utterly
+ ridiculous, stupid, impossible, wrong, alone, appalled, convinced, devastated, miserable
Absolutely and (slightly more formal) utterly combine with adjectives with very extreme meanings where we can’t use very. For example, we say absolutely/utterly exhausted, not "very exhausted", whereas we say very tired, but not "absolutely/utterly tired". Often, but not always, these words have negative connotations.
It was an absolutely stupid comment to make.
The whole area was utterly devastated after the earthquake.
C. Bitterly
+ dissappointing/dissapointed, resent, criticise, regret, complain, cry, weep
Carries a feeling a deep sadness; used slightly more in writing than in conversation.
I was bitterly disappointed when I failed the exam.
D. Deeply
+ ashamed, concerned, shocked, commited, moved, affected, hurt (of feelings), regret, care, religious, unhappy
Collocates mainly with words associated with feelings; used slightly more in writing than in conversation.
Professor McDellvit was always deeply committed to her students.
E. Ridiculously
+ cheap, expensive, easy, low, high, long, short, small, large, early
Suggests something extreme, which seems unbelievable or unreasonable.
The restaurant was ridiculously expensive. I don’t think we’ll go there again.
F. Strongly
+ oppose, influence, believe, deny, recommend, support, condemn, suggest, feel, argue, object
Collocates with verbs, particularly verbs that relate to having an opinion.
I would strongly recommend that you learn a foreign language.
Exercices
1. Choose an adverb to replace very in each of these expressions.
utterly – strongly – bitterly – ridiculously – highly – deeply
a. very ashamed
b. very cheap
c. very controversial
d. very stupid
e. very successful
f. very disappointing
g. very opposed
h. very ridiculous
i. very easy
j. very concerned
2. Use a collocation from exercice 1. to complete each of these sentences.
a. The flight from London to Rome was ... . It only cost 20 euros.
b. Some people love her new book, others are very angry about it. It is ... .
c. His father was a pacifist all his life and was ... to war.
d. The exam results were ... for the whole class. We had all expected to do much better.
e. When I realise how much my selfish behaviour had upset everyone, I was ... .
f. In the 1990s she ran a(n) .... company which made outstanding profits.
g. Everyone got more than 95% correct in the test; it was ... .
h. You must apologise immediately. It was a(n) ... remark to make.
i. She has always been ... about the environment and would like to work for a conservation agency.
j. That you should even think that I would steal money from you is ... ! You must be crazy!
3. In each of these sets of phrases, one is not a correct collocation. Cross out the incorrect one.
a. strongly recommend – strongly influence – strongly love – strongly dislike
b. highly educated – highly profitable – highly unusual – highly exhausted
c. bitterly regard – bitterly regret – bitterly resent – bitterly criticise
d. absolutely convinced – absolutely tired – absolutely devastated – absolytely absurd
e. deeply unhappy – deeply religious – deeply successful – deeply commited
4. In this short text, the writer has often misused the word strongly. Correct the wrong collocations using adverbs from the box. Use each adverb once only.
bitterly – strictly – deeply – utterly
Everyone was complaining strongly when they heard about the new plan. People were strongly shocked to hear that children would be strongly forbidden to use the sports ground and most people were strongly opposed to the new rules. Even people who normally never expressed an opinion were strongly appalled by the proposals.
Key
1.
a. deeply ashamed
b. ridiculously cheap
c. highly controversial
d. utterly stupid
e. highly successful
f. bitterly dissapointing
g. strongly opposed
h. absolutely ridiculous
i. ridiculously easy
j. deeply concerned
2.
a. The flight from London to Rome was ridiculously cheap. It only cost 20 euros.
b. Some people love her new book, others are very angry about it. It is highly controversial.
c. His father was a pacifist all his life and was strongly opposed to war.
d. The exam results were bitterly dissapointing for the whole class. We had all expected to do much better.
e. When I realise how much my selfish behaviour had upset everyone, I was deeply ashamed.
f. In the 1990s she ran a highly successful company which made outstanding profits.
g. Everyone got more than 95% correct in the test; it was ridiculously easy.
h. You must apologise immediately. It was an utterly stupid remark to make.
i. She has always been deeply concerned about the environment and would like to work for a conservation agency.
j. That you should even think that I would steal money from you is absolutely ridiculous! You must be crazy!
3.
a. strongly love
b. highly exhausted
c. bitterly regard
d. absolutely tired
e. deeply successful
4. Everyone was complaining bitterly when they heard about the new plan. People were deeply shocked to hear that children would be strictly forbidden to use the sports ground and most people were strongly opposed to the new rules. Even people who normally never expressed an opinion were utterly appalled by the proposals.
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