very much capable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very much capable" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used to emphasize someone's ability or competence, but it is often better to use simpler expressions. Example: "She is very much capable of leading the project to success."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

** Estimation of own capability, visual analogue scale, rang 0, indicating not capable, to 10 very much capable.

BMC Family Practice

In sum, the attacks suggest an insurgency still very much capable of terrorizing the Iraqi population on a nearly daily basis, despite frequent statements from United States military commanders that the group has been severely impeded.

The New York Times

The method is not very much capable of reducing levels of other contaminants of health concern.

Applied Water Science

Limitations: The method is not very much capable of reducing levels of other contaminants of health concern.

Applied Water Science

However, this does show how the higher educated second generation is very much capable of advocating for the young people.

Comparative Migration Studies

Children are very much capable of forming their own visions".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

That the carer might not actually be very much more capable than the person they're caring for and I think that it a potential problem".

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Howard very much thought he was capable of working an issue through.

The New Yorker

These are the people I know.... None of them seem ordinary to me, because they all want something very much, and they're capable of quite unexpected things sometimes".

The New York Times

One can imagine that Bill, as former president, might have a position from which to speak.... [It] did seem worth remembering that he's very much with us and capable of some kind of political commentary during the coming administration.

The New Yorker

It's a shocking, heart-wrenching moment that's open for interpretation, but, to me, what it ultimately betrays is that, to him, she's still very much an adult — his equal, capable of driving him to passionate anger.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger, more concise alternatives like "highly capable" or "fully qualified" to enhance clarity and impact. While "very much capable" is acceptable, it can sometimes sound less professional in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers. Instead of saying "very, very much capable", choose a single, stronger adjective like "exceptionally competent" or "remarkably skilled" to create a more impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "very much capable" is to act as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its ability or competence. It's used to emphasize the degree to which someone or something possesses a certain skill or capacity. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is not incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very much capable" is grammatically acceptable, but Ludwig AI suggests that it can sometimes sound awkward or less polished than alternatives. It functions as an adjectival phrase, used to emphasize someone's competence, and appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While understandable, consider using stronger, more concise alternatives like "highly capable" or "thoroughly competent" to enhance clarity and impact, especially in formal writing. Overusing intensifiers should be avoided, opting for stronger single adjectives for a more professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly competent

Replaces "very much" with a stronger adjective emphasizing skill.

extremely able

Emphasizes the extent of someone's ability.

thoroughly competent

Suggests a complete and comprehensive level of capability.

eminently qualified

Highlights qualifications and suitability for a task.

perfectly capable

Implies a complete and sufficient level of ability.

entirely able

Stresses the completeness of one's ability to perform.

fully qualified

Emphasizes the possession of all necessary qualifications.

decidedly capable

Adds a sense of certainty and confidence in one's ability.

more than capable

Suggests the capability exceeds the minimum requirements.

amply able

Implies a generous or abundant level of capability.

FAQs

What does "very much capable" mean?

The phrase "very much capable" indicates a significant degree of ability or competence. It suggests someone is not only capable, but possesses a high level of skill or aptitude.

Is it correct to say "very much capable"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it can sound slightly awkward or less polished compared to alternatives like "highly capable" or "extremely able".

What can I say instead of "very much capable"?

You can use alternatives like "highly capable", "extremely able", "thoroughly competent", or "perfectly capable" depending on the context.

How can I use "very much capable" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's ability to perform a task. For example: "She is "very much capable" of leading the project to success."