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'Vary' is the verb meaning to change or differ; 'very' is the adverb meaning to a great degree.
Side-by-side comparison
"Vary" is the verb to change or differ: to introduce variation or be different. "Prices vary" = prices are not all the same. "Results vary" = outcomes are not consistent.
Prices vary depending on the season and demand.
Results can vary widely from one patient to another.
Please vary your examples so the presentation stays engaging.
"Very" is the degree adverb meaning "to a great extent": it intensifies adjectives and adverbs. "Very good" = extremely good. "Very quickly" = at great speed. It is never a verb.
The response from the market was very positive.
She worked very hard to meet the launch deadline.
The two proposals are very similar in scope.
Common mistake
- •Common in learner writing: "The results very depending on the sample" (correct: vary).
- •Or "She was vary happy" when the intensifier is needed (correct: very happy).
Trick to remember it
- •"Vary" has an A for "action", it is a verb, something actively changes.
- •"Very" has an E like "extreme", it intensifies an adjective or adverb to a great degree.
Quick rule
- •Is it the action of changing or differing? "Vary" (verb).
- •Does it intensify an adjective or adverb? "Very" (adverb).
Did you know?
VERY is one of the most criticised words by writing teachers and style guides. Mark Twain reportedly said: "Substitute 'damn' every time you want to write 'very'; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." The critique is that VERY weakens writing because instead of finding the precise adjective, the writer adds VERY to an imprecise one: "very tired" is weaker than "exhausted," "very happy" is weaker than "thrilled." Modern professional editors recommend eliminating almost all VERY from a text and replacing them with more specific adjectives.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Prices _____ depending on the season. They're much higher in summer.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The food at that restaurant is _____ good. We go there all the time.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy