I Really Like It; I Like It Very Much

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I Really Like It; I Like It Very Much

In this lesson, you can use really to show a strong preference.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Name music or food you like.

See one possible response

I like this song.

Two people compare music, food and weekend activities at a language exchange.

What you will practise
  • Use really to show a strong preference.
  • Put very much or a lot after the thing you like.
  • Say how much you like something.

Say your answer. Then check the model. Your answer can be different if it fits the task.

Really before the verb

Put really before like or enjoy to make the preference stronger: I really like this song. Do not say I very like it. Really can be used with these verbs; very usually needs a different pattern.

I really like this music.

My friend really enjoys cooking.

The brunette listens with delighted, absorbed enjoyment to music through over-ear headphones beside a small portable music player. Her colleague sees her clear positive reaction. No music notes, lettering or environment.
I really like this music.Really strengthens the preference before like.

Very much and a lot after the object

Put very much or a lot after the thing you like: I like this café very much. Keep the verb and its object together. I enjoy it a lot is a useful spoken pattern.

I like this café very much.

We enjoy the classes a lot.

A smaller positive feeling

I like it a little gives a small positive preference. I really like it is stronger. Choose a phrase that matches your feeling. Use a clear object such as it or this film so the listener knows what you are discussing.

I like this soup a little.

I really like the bread, though.

The brunette warmly expresses her liking for a cafe while her companion listens beside a small isolated cafe service counter with an espresso machine and one pastry plate. Retain only these cafe-defining props, no room or scenery.
I like this café very much.The verb and object remain together.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. I very like this place.

Compare a model and explanation

I really like this place.

Really can modify like directly; very alone cannot in this pattern.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. much / this / I / very / book / like

Compare a model and explanation

I like this book very much.

Put very much after the object.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. She really ___ the lessons. Use enjoy.

Compare a model and explanation

enjoys

She needs the third-person form.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. I like the new café very much. Use it.

Compare a model and explanation

I like it very much.

It stays between like and very much.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. You feel only a small positive preference. Choose really like it or like it a little.

Compare a model and explanation

I like it a little.

A little gives the smaller positive feeling.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. We really enjoy the walks. Use a lot at the end.

Compare a model and explanation

We enjoy the walks a lot.

A lot follows the object.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. I like it very much. I like it a lot. Are both strong positive preferences here?

Compare a model and explanation

Yes.

Both expressions can make the positive preference strong.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. A friend asks about the meal. You strongly like the fish but only slightly like the sauce.

Compare a model and explanation

I really like the fish. I like the sauce a little.

Keep the two preferences and their strengths separate.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Participant: Do you like this music?

Partner: Yes, I really like it. Do you?

Participant: I like it a little. I enjoy quieter music a lot.

Partner: That’s fine. I like quiet music very much too.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. Which does the speaker express a stronger liking for?
Read the listening transcript

I like the tea a little, but I really like the cake.

2. What does the speaker enjoy?
Read the listening transcript

My brother enjoys cycling a lot. I enjoy walking a lot.

3. What does it refer to?
Read the listening transcript

Do you like the room? Yes, I like it very much.

Answer key with explanations

  1. Which does the speaker express a stronger liking for?

    The cake.: Really like is stronger than like a little here.

    Compare all choices
    • The tea.: The tea receives only a small positive preference.
    • Neither.: Both comments are positive, with different strengths.
    • The cake.: Really like is stronger than like a little here.

  2. What does the speaker enjoy?

    Walking.: I refers to the speaker’s walking preference.

    Compare all choices
    • Walking.: I refers to the speaker’s walking preference.
    • Neither activity.: The speaker says they enjoy walking.
    • Cycling.: Cycling is the brother’s activity.

  3. What does it refer to?

    The room.: The reply continues the question about the room.

    Compare all choices
    • A meal.: No meal is mentioned.
    • The room.: The reply continues the question about the room.
    • The person asking.: The object under discussion is the room.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Choose the natural sentence.
2. Choose the correct position.
3. Complete: She really ___ cooking.
4. Which expresses a small positive preference?
5. Replace this film: I enjoy this film a lot.
6. Which phrase completes I like these lessons ___?
7. You strongly like the food. Choose a clear response.
8. Choose the correctly formed comparison.
Answer key with explanations

  1. Choose the natural sentence.

    I really like this song.: Really can directly strengthen like.

    Compare all choices
    • I very like this song.: Very alone does not modify like in this pattern.
    • I really like this song.: Really can directly strengthen like.
    • I like very this song.: Very is neither in a suitable form nor position here.

  2. Choose the correct position.

    I like this café very much.: Very much follows the object.

    Compare all choices
    • I very this café like much.: This does not form an English clause.
    • I like very much this café.: In the neutral pattern taught here, keep the object before very much.
    • I like this café very much.: Very much follows the object.

  3. Complete: She really ___ cooking.

    enjoys: Third-person singular she takes enjoys.

    Compare all choices
    • enjoys: Third-person singular she takes enjoys.
    • enjoy: The verb needs the third-person ending.
    • enjoying: This form needs another verb in this sentence.

  4. Which expresses a small positive preference?

    I like it a little.: A little gives a limited positive feeling.

    Compare all choices
    • I love it.: Love normally expresses a strong liking, not the requested small one.
    • I like it a little.: A little gives a limited positive feeling.
    • I really like it.: This is a strong positive preference.

  5. Replace this film: I enjoy this film a lot.

    I enjoy it a lot.: It is the object before a lot.

    Compare all choices
    • I enjoy a lot it.: The neutral object position is before a lot.
    • I enjoy its a lot.: Its is possessive, not the required object pronoun.
    • I enjoy it a lot.: It is the object before a lot.

  6. Which phrase completes I like these lessons ___?

    very much: This phrase can follow the object to strengthen like.

    Compare all choices
    • very much: This phrase can follow the object to strengthen like.
    • really very: This unfinished degree combination does not complete the intended pattern.
    • very: Very alone is not used here.

  7. You strongly like the food. Choose a clear response.

    I like the food a lot.: A lot communicates a strong positive preference.

    Compare all choices
    • I like the food a little.: This gives only a small positive preference.
    • I like the food a lot.: A lot communicates a strong positive preference.
    • The food like I a lot.: The subject and object are in the wrong order.

  8. Choose the correctly formed comparison.

    I really like the soup. I like the bread a little.: Both degree expressions are placed naturally.

    Compare all choices
    • I really likes the soup. I like bread a little the.: I does not take likes, and the article is misplaced.
    • I very like the soup. I a little bread like.: Both clauses have incorrect degree patterns or order.
    • I really like the soup. I like the bread a little.: Both degree expressions are placed naturally.

Use it in your own words

Two preferences

Name two activities you enjoy strongly. Use really once and a lot once.

Reveal a possible response

I really enjoy reading. I enjoy swimming a lot.

  • Use two natural degree positions
  • Keep objects after the verbs

Real or invented activities are welcome.

A small difference

Compare your feeling about two familiar foods. Make one preference strong and the other small but positive.

Reveal a possible response

I like pasta very much. I like olives a little.

  • Make the strengths different
  • Keep both statements positive

Do not claim these are the only possible preference expressions.

Put it all together

Recommend one of two cafés to a visitor. Describe your strong preference for one café and a small positive feeling about one feature of the other. Ask about the visitor’s preference.

Reveal a possible response

I really like the café near the park. I like the music in the other café a little. Do you like quiet cafés?

  • Use two strengths
  • Refer to the cafés clearly
  • Ask a useful question

A different natural recommendation is acceptable.

Take it with you

Really goes before like or enjoy. Very much and a lot usually follow the object in these simple patterns. Choose words that fit your feeling.