very much so [Reference Word]

[hhtt21]

Willowbrook says, "In fact, he's been quite helpful all around.

Abison takes a sip of his tequila.

Ansprahv asks, "So he has been attentive?"

Abison takes a sip of his absinthe.
Abison looks around at something that you can't see, laughing softly in amazement.

Willowbrook says, "Very much so."

Would you please explain the use of "very much so" in the above?

http://www.tinyheroes.com/forums/DragonRealms/The Traders/Guild Events/thread/1305345

 

[tedmc]

"Very much so" is Willbrook's reply to Ansprahv's question, "So he has been attentiive?"

It means the person is very attentive(attentive to a large degree).

 

[jutfrank]

so = attentive

 

[GoesStation]

Note that although so reiterates a previous adjective (in this case, "attentive"), it accepts adverbs which don't work with that adjective. You can't write very much attentive.

 

[hhtt21]

If the adverbial phrase "very much" isn't wanted to be used, how could "so" be used by itself?

-Ansprahv asks, "So he has been attentive?"

- Willowbrook says, so

 

[Rover_KE]

If the adverbial phrase "very much" isn't wanted [STRIKE]to be used[/STRIKE], how could "so" be used by itself?

It couldn't.

 

[tedmc]

You could also say "quite so", "less so", "rather so", "not so", etc.
Note that these are only used in spoken English.

 

[hhtt21]

You could also say "quite so", "less so", "rather so", "not so", etc.
Note that these are only used in spoken English.

If the situation is the same, not more or not less, how would it be expressed: ​The same so?

 

[hhtt21]

Would you please look this dialogue?

- Wow! It seems it's like "prominence day" today for the sun!

- Yes, very much so.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/solar-imaging-and-techniques.925656/page-5#post-5930664

Would you please explain very much so here?

 

[GoesStation]

It means Yes, it's very definitely "prominence day" for the sun.

 

[jutfrank]

A: Wow! It seems it's like "prominence day" today for the sun!

B: Yes, very much so.

Would you please explain very much so here?

Speaker B firmly agrees with what speaker A said.

 

[tedmc]

If the situation is the same, not more or not less, how would it be expressed: ​The same so?

It is a comment about a person's quality(being attentive). When you say "the same", who are you comparing the person to?

 

[hhtt21]

Speaker B firmly agrees with what speaker A said.

Then could speaker B prefer another phrase and retain the same meaning? Are these the same with "very much so" here?
Definitely so, completely so, exactly so, precisely so, accurately so?

 

[GoesStation]

Ansprahv asks, "So he has been attentive?"

Abison takes a sip of his absinthe.
Abison looks around at something that you can't see, laughing softly in amazement.

Willowbrook says, "Very much so."

Then could speaker B prefer another phrase and retain the same meaning? Are these the same with "very much so" here?
Definitely so, completely so, exactly so, precisely so, accurately so?

Any of these one-word sentences could replace Willowbrook's final one:

Definitely.
Completely.
Precisely.

"So" wouldn't work with any of them, and "accurately" is the wrong word for this case.

 

[hhtt21]

Any of these one-word sentences could replace Willowbrook's final one:

Definitely.
Completely.
Precisely.

"So" wouldn't work with any of them, and "accurately" is the wrong word for this case.

1. But you have forgotten to judge exactly for the the case of Wilbrook. (I hope I am not rude with this demand as a non-native)
2. Which of completely, definitely, exactly and precisely would work for the case of prominance day in #11?

 

[GoesStation]

1. But you have forgotten to judge exactly for the the case of Wilbrook. (I hope I am not rude with this demand as a non-native)
2. Which of completely, definitely, exactly and precisely would work for the case of prominance day in #11?

1. Sorry. Exactly is another suitable single-word response in that dialog. Your request (not "demand", which is too strong for this context) is fine.

2. I didn't read the dialog the "prominence day" line was excerpted from, so I don't know the context. But only definitely looks like a suitable replacement for "very much so."

 

[hhtt21]

. 2. I didn't read the dialog the "prominence day" line was excerpted from, so I don't know the context. But only definitely looks like a suitable replacement for "very much so."

Would you please give me some tips&tricks or clues about how you can dismiss exactly, completely, and precisely for that kind of context?

 

[GoesStation]

Would you please give me some tips&tricks or clues about how you can dismiss exactly, completely, and precisely for that kind of context?

This may be an area where only extensive exposure to English will really work.

 

[hhtt21]

This may be an area where only extensive exposure to English will really work.

Does this mean it is an intuitive familiarity?

 

[Rover_KE]

No—it's a learned/acquired familiarity from years of reading, writing and speaking the language.