Differences between "very" and "very much" as adjective modifiers?

Question

The following examples are clearly wrong: > × I am very much tired > × She is very much clever But the following sounds fine (at least according to [OALD](http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/very_1)): > I am very much afraid that ... > I am very much aware of ... Worse, the following sounds awkward to me: > × I am very aware of ... I wonder some sound ok while the others do not. Does it have to do with the type of adjectives being used? Or is there a subtle nuance between "very" and "very much"? Is "very much" the same as "extremely" (I would guess not, at least in the "afraid" example)? When should/can one use "very much", as opposed to "very"? Are there differences between spoken and written uses?

Answer 1

Hi! This is a really neat question. I would say that the main difference I immediately notice between the examples you gave is that the first two are sentences that end on an adjective, versus the second two examples, which have either a relative pronoun or preposition following the adjective to connect the first clause to the second part of the sentence.

In other words, "I am very much afraid that... (relative pronoun) = Clause 1

...she is not going to arrive on time" = Clause 2

I can't say for sure if I am 100% correct about this, but that is simply what I can see is apparent in your examples. Hopefully other tutors can provide insight as well!

-Alissa