'my very life' I see some expressions like this one in the 'Gimme Shelter' song, I can't understand what is the idea in using the adverb "VERY" in contexts like these: "... our very street today" "t

Lindalva Santos

Professional Teacher

'my very life' I see some expressions like this one in the 'Gimme Shelter' song, I can't understand what is the idea in using the adverb "VERY" in contexts like these: "... our very street today" "these are the very ones that..." "... in the very day you eat from it" "But for this very reason"

Dec 5, 2014 11:05 AM

Answers · 3

"very" just adds emphasis. In your examples you can think of it as "exact". You will also see "very best", which just adds emphasis and also used for extremes, like "the very beginning/end/top/bottom".

December 5, 2014

Still haven’t found your answers?

Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!