the very building

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the very building" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a specific building, often in a context where its significance or uniqueness is being highlighted. Example: "This is the very building where the historic meeting took place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

In the above passage, a particularly frightful storm strikes on the night that the young Heathcliff runs away from the home he shares with Catherine Earnshaw — a severing so drastic that it breaks the very building.

The New Yorker

In the above passage, a particularly frightful storm strikes on the night that the young Heathcliff runs away from the home he shares with Catherine Earnshaw a severing so drastic that it breaks the very building.

The New Yorker

Two people embracing was the very building block of life.

The New Yorker

Still others are looking for the very building blocks of space and time.

The New York Times - Science

Why couldn't YouTube count high enough?The answer involves zooming in to the very building blocks of computing.

The Economist

That morning it crashed into the very building where he had long worked during the Persian Gulf war — the Pentagon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Where you or I see a rudimentary mass of snot and dependency, they see the very building-blocks of life.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They may look like harmless gatherings but are in fact capitalist orgies that cream off profits to pay for the very buildings that help oppress its women.

Independent

Soon, she explained in testimony, her staff of prosecutors began telling her that they had found instances in which the defendants lived in the very buildings where the arrests occurred.

The New York Times

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's push to increase development in east Midtown would threaten some of the very buildings that give the neighborhood its character, preservation groups and community boards warn.

The New York Times

Incurable, though, doesn't mean untreatable, and if we shift our focus to the non-pharmacological then dementia becomes treatable in many different ways, including the design of the very buildings where people with dementia live.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the very building" to emphasize the significance or particular relevance of a specific location in your narrative or argument. It adds a layer of importance beyond simply identifying a place.

Common error

Avoid using "the very building" when a simpler description would suffice. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the very building" acts as a determiner phrase, specifically emphasizing and singling out a particular building. Ludwig shows various instances, demonstrating its role in highlighting the unique or significant aspect of a location.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the very building" serves to emphasize a specific building's unique qualities or importance. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, overuse can dilute its impact, so it’s best reserved for situations where highlighting the building’s significance is genuinely intended. Alternatives such as "that specific building" or "the precise building" can offer similar emphasis with slightly different nuances. Overall, it is a useful construction for drawing attention to a specific structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this very building

Uses 'this' to indicate immediacy and proximity to the speaker.

that very structure

Replaces 'building' with the more general 'structure', broadening the applicability.

the precise building

Emphasizes accuracy and specificity rather than inherent qualities.

the identical building

Highlights that it's the same building previously mentioned or considered.

the specific building

Highlights a particular building out of many possibilities.

the selfsame building

A more formal and emphatic way of saying 'the same building'.

that exact building

Combines specificity and distance, implying a known but not immediately present building.

the actual building

Focuses on the reality and existence of the building.

the same edifice

Replaces "building" with the more formal term "edifice".

the aforementioned building

Formally refers back to a building that has been previously mentioned.

FAQs

How can I use "the very building" in a sentence?

Use "the very building" to emphasize a location's significance. For example: "This is "the very building" where the treaty was signed."

What are some alternatives to "the very building"?

You can use phrases like "that specific building", "the precise building", or "this exact location" as alternatives depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "the very building" instead of "the building"?

Use "the very building" when you want to highlight a unique or important aspect of that particular location, adding emphasis to its role or history.

Is "the very building" formal or informal?

"The very building" is generally neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal writing, though it tends to be more common in narrative or descriptive contexts.