Practice
Emphasizing adjectives: forms and examples
Compare these sentences: Maya made her own lunch. The very first bus was full. We had only one hour. It was a mere suggestion. The extra adjective changes what the reader notices. It may show possession, point to one exact thing, limit an amount, or make something seem small.
Use own, very, only, and mere before a noun when each adjective adds the meaning you intend.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
the very same answer /ðə ˈvɛri seɪm ˈænsər/
The short answer
Use own to show that something belongs to the subject. Use very before a noun to point to the exact person, thing, place, or time. Use only to limit the number or amount. Use mere to say that something is small or unimportant in comparison with something else.
I heard the news from the very person who organized the event.
Why it works: Very points to that exact person. It does not mean highly or extremely in this sentence.
5 more examples
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Luis fixed his own bicycle.
Own shows that the bicycle belongs to Luis.
Not this:Luis fixed
a bicycle for his neighbor. What changes: Without own, the bicycle does not have to belong to Luis. -
The train arrived at the very moment we reached the platform.
Very means the exact moment, not an extremely important moment.
Not this:The train arrived at
a busy moment. What changes: Busy describes the moment. Very points to one exact moment. -
Only three students asked a question.
Only limits the number of students who asked.
Not this:
Three studentsasked a question. What changes: The sentence gives a number but does not show whether the speaker thinks the number is limited. -
A mere five minutes remained before the doors closed.
Mere makes five minutes seem like a small amount of time.
Not this:
Five minutesremained before the doors closed. What changes: The basic sentence states the time without the speaker's judgment that it is a small amount. -
She used the very same password on both accounts.
Very emphasizes that the password was exactly the same.
Not this:She used
a similar passwordon both accounts. What changes: Similar means almost the same. The very same means exactly the same.
Read the full guide
First, ask what the extra adjective adds. Does the noun belong to someone? Choose own. Does the sentence point to one exact noun? Choose very. Does it limit a number or amount? Choose only. Does it make the noun seem small in comparison? Choose mere. These adjectives usually come directly before the noun they modify.
Use own for something that belongs to someone
Use own after my, your, his, her, our, their, or a possessive noun when you want to stress possession. The noun belongs to the person or group named before own.
They started their own small business.
Their own business belongs to them. A business may belong to someone else.
Choose the word that shows the apartment belongs to us: our ___ apartment.
Use own: our own apartment.
Use very for the exact noun
Use very before a noun when you mean exact or same. This pattern often appears with words such as moment, day, place, person, and same. It gives the noun special focus.
We met at the very place shown on the map.
The speaker means the exact place on the map, not simply any place near it.
Complete the sentence: I saw her at this ___ moment.
Use very: I saw her at this very moment.
Do not confuse the two uses of very
Very before an ordinary adjective means extremely or to a high degree. Very before a noun means exact. The word stays the same, but its job and meaning change.
The room was very quiet.
Very strengthens quiet here. In the very room, very would point to one exact room.
Which sentence uses very to mean exact: The soup is very hot, or I used the very bowl from the shelf?
I used the very bowl from the shelf uses very to mean exact.
Use only to limit a number or amount
Use only when you want to limit what the sentence includes. It can come before a number, an amount, a noun phrase, or another part of the sentence. Before a noun phrase, it tells the reader that the group or amount is limited.
Only one table is free.
The sentence says that one is the complete number of free tables.
Choose the word that limits the time: We have ___ ten minutes.
Use only: We have only ten minutes.
Use mere when something seems small
Use mere to make an amount, object, or action seem small or less important. The word often appears before a number or noun. It adds the speaker's view, so it can sound dismissive in some situations.
The repair took a mere ten minutes.
Mere says that ten minutes is a small amount of time for this repair.
Choose the word that presents two dollars as a small amount: a ___ two dollars.
Use mere: a mere two dollars.
Before you go
Remember this
Use own for possession, as in my own plan. Use very to identify the exact noun, as in the very day. Use only to limit a number or amount, as in only two tickets. Use mere to present something as small, as in a mere mistake. Check the meaning you want to add before choosing one.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Emphasizing adjectives: forms and examples"
What are emphasizing adjectives?
Emphasizing adjectives add focus to a noun. They can show possession, identify an exact person or thing, limit a number, or make an amount seem small. In this lesson, own, very, only, and mere each add a different kind of focus.
Luis fixed his own bicycle.
What does own mean in my own idea?
In my own idea, own emphasizes that the idea belongs to me. Use own after a possessive word or possessive noun: your own plan, their own room, or the teacher's own notes.
Luis fixed a bicycle for his neighbor.
Can very come before a noun?
Yes. Before a noun, very can mean exact: the very place, this very moment, or the very same answer. This is different from very before an adjective, where it usually means extremely, as in very tired.
The train arrived at the very moment we reached the platform.
What is the difference between only and mere?
Only limits a number, amount, or group: only two tickets remained. Mere also suggests that something is small or less important: a mere two tickets remained. Mere adds the speaker's judgment, while only is usually more neutral.
The train arrived at a busy moment.
Can mere sound rude?
It can. Mere can make a person's work, concern, or problem sound unimportant. Use it carefully when you are speaking about another person's experience. In neutral writing, only or just may be a better choice when you only need to state a limited amount.
Only three students asked a question.