it was very terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was very terrible" is grammatically correct but somewhat redundant in English.
You can use it to emphasize the severity of a negative experience or situation, although it may sound awkward to some readers. Example: "The storm last night was so intense that it was very terrible for everyone in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was very terrible".

The New York Times

"It was very terrible sleeping in those cells," Maguwu, 36, said this week.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's very terrible".

The New York Times

At the same time, it's very terrible that my husband hasn't been able to meet his own daughter.

Vice

If you do not have a family, it is very terrible.' It was considered impossible to have a family with an HIV positive person.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

We were becalmed the 21st and 22nd but we had rather more wind the 23rd but in the afternoon were all alarmed by a squall of wind accompanied by thunder and lightning which was very terrible and we had one of our mainsails that had just been mended torn to rags again with the wind.

The New Yorker

"My wife came along and especially being an American, transition was very terrible for her.

Huffington Post

We do not typically allow children to make life-or-death decisions like the ones Jon Snow has to make as commander, and it is because they would likely be very terrible at it.

Huffington Post

If it was accidental, that would be very terrible, too," Pelosi argued.

Huffington Post

"The future is guaranteed to be very terrible in a very short space of time.

The Guardian

"The social stigma of childlessness is very terrible in India," says the doctor.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was very terrible" to emphasize the magnitude of a negative situation, particularly when seeking to evoke a strong emotional response from your audience. Consider using more evocative synonyms for 'terrible' to enhance the impact.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "very" as it can dilute the strength of your writing. Replace "very terrible" with a single, more powerful adjective like 'horrific', 'devastating', or 'atrocious' to create a more vivid and compelling description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was very terrible" functions as a descriptive statement, characterizing a past event or situation as exceptionally negative. As Ludwig AI points out, although grammatically correct, the intensifier "very" alongside "terrible" can sometimes be redundant, yet it underscores the severity of the experience.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was very terrible" serves to describe something extremely negative. While grammatically acceptable, it can sometimes be perceived as somewhat redundant. As Ludwig AI suggests, consider using stronger, more specific adjectives for a more impactful effect. It's commonly found in News & Media contexts where the intent is to emphasize the severe or unpleasant nature of a situation. Alternatives like "it was awful", "it was horrific", or "it was devastating" offer more concise and vivid options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was absolutely awful

Replaces 'terrible' with 'awful' and adds 'absolutely' for emphasis.

it was extremely dreadful

Substitutes 'terrible' with 'dreadful' and 'very' with 'extremely'.

it was truly horrific

Emphasizes the horror of the situation, replacing 'terrible' with 'horrific'.

it was utterly devastating

Highlights the destructive impact of the event, using 'devastating' instead of 'terrible'.

it was exceptionally bad

Uses 'bad' as a simpler alternative to 'terrible', modified by 'exceptionally'.

it was unbelievably horrible

Replaces 'terrible' with 'horrible' and adds 'unbelievably' for stronger emotional impact.

it was intensely unpleasant

Focuses on the unpleasantness of the experience, replacing 'terrible' with 'unpleasant' and 'very' with 'intensely'.

it was a complete nightmare

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey the dreadful nature of the situation.

it was a harrowing experience

Replaces the direct description with 'harrowing experience', emphasizing the emotional distress caused.

it was a tragedy

Describes the event as a 'tragedy', focusing on its sorrowful and unfortunate nature.

FAQs

What does "it was very terrible" mean?

The phrase "it was very terrible" describes a situation or experience that was extremely bad or unpleasant. It's used to emphasize the severity of something negative.

How can I use "it was very terrible" in a sentence?

You can use "it was very terrible" to describe a past event or situation. For example: "The accident "it was very terrible", leaving many injured".

Which is correct, "it was very terrible" or "it was terrible"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "it was terrible" is often more concise and impactful. Adding "very" emphasizes the degree of terribleness, but can sometimes sound redundant. Consider using a stronger adjective instead.

What are some alternatives to saying "it was very terrible"?

You can use alternatives such as "it was awful", "it was horrific", or "it was devastating" to convey a similar meaning with potentially greater impact.