Stop Using Boring Words! Make your English speech more dynamic

by | Last updated Oct 31, 2023 | English Learning

Is your English vocabulary limited for your needs? Are you using simple adjectives when speaking English? It’s time to confront the reality: we must step out of our ‘language comfort zone’ and acquire new, more sophisticated words and expressions to ensure our speech doesn’t come across as basic and uninteresting.

Today, we’re taking our English learning to a higher level. We’ll explore how to substitute expressions like ‘very’ + adjective with more precise terms. For instance, instead of ‘very beautiful,’ you can say ‘exquisite.’ This can leave others impressed with your English proficiency.

So, avoid the use of ‘very’ because it’s a bit unrefined. A person isn’t ‘very tired’; they are ‘exhausted.’ Instead of ‘very sad,’ opt for ‘morose.’ Remember, language was created for a particular purpose, gentlemen – to court women – and in that endeavor, being lackadaisical will not suffice.

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“You can easily achieve some quick and effortless victories. Begin by recognizing the everyday vocabulary that frequently appears in your conversations—words you tend to overuse. These are the ones that require your attention. Practice replacing these commonplace ‘generic’ adjectives with more specific ones to convey your intended meaning effectively.

In the context of the speaking sections of exams like IELTS and TOEFL, employing precise adjectives demonstrates to the examiner that you possess a strong command of English vocabulary, ultimately enhancing your score.”

35 ways to avoid the word “very”

Instead of very + adjective, let us try to use the English words marked below in bold:

  • Very afraid => terrified 
  • Very angry => furious
  • Very bad => atrocious 
  • Very beautiful => gorgeous
  • Very big => immense
  • Very clean => spotless 
  • Very clever => brilliant 
  • Very cold => freezing
  • Very dirty => squalid 
  • Very fast => quick 
  • Very good => superb 
  • Very boring => dull 
  • Very happy => jubilant 
  • Very careful => cautious 
  • Very hot => scalding 
  • Very hungry => ravenous 
  • Very large => colossal 
  • Very loved => adored 
  • Very old => ancient 
  • Very busy => swamped
  • Very dangerous => perilous 
  • Very fat => obese
  • Very slow => sluggish 
  • Very rich => wealthy
  • Very interesting => captivating 
  • Very little => tiny 
  • Very loose => slack 
  • Very long => extensive 
  • Very simple => basic
  • Very ugly => hideous 
  • Very wet => soaked 
  • Very special => exceptional 
  • Very tasty => delicious 
  • Very rude => vulgar 
  • Very worried => anxious

Take your time to gradually acquire these words. You don’t need to memorize them all at once. Aim to learn five new words each day and construct brief sentences or phrases using them. Record your voice and listen to it afterward; this method can help you rapidly commit unfamiliar words to memory.

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