very near

USAGE SUMMARY

"very near" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something being close in proximity, or to refer to something happening soon in time. For example: "I'm very near to completing the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I feel very near him.

The New Yorker

"Dan's was very near mine.

Independent

One Table, Very Near the Prince's.

The New Yorker

I feel she is very near.

The New Yorker

"She is very near," Rani said.

The New Yorker

But it's very near the same".

The New Yorker

Mr. Austbo came very near.

The New York Times - Arts

This day is very near! . . .

The New Yorker

I was very near him.

The Guardian

Afghanistan very near the Pakistan border.

The New York Times

She always had to be very near.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing distances, be specific after using "very near". For example, "The park is very near, about a five-minute walk."

Common error

Don't overuse "very near" when referring to time without providing context. Instead of saying "The deadline is very near", specify a date or timeframe to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very near" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "near". Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and common usage in English, signifying close proximity in space or time. It modifies verbs by specifying the degree of nearness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very near" is a versatile and frequently used adverbial phrase that intensifies the concept of closeness, whether in terms of physical space, time, or abstract ideas. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for a variety of contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific publications. It's crucial to provide sufficient detail following the use of "very near" to avoid ambiguity, especially when referring to time. When more specific alternatives are desired, phrases like "in close proximity" or "just around the corner" can be considered to convey similar meanings with varying degrees of formality and nuance. Overall, "very near" is a reliable and effective way to express nearness in English writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in close proximity

Emphasizes spatial closeness more formally.

just around the corner

Implies both spatial and temporal nearness, often used idiomatically.

in the immediate vicinity

Highlights the surrounding area, suggesting a close spatial relationship.

in the offing

Focuses on future events being imminent or likely to happen soon.

within reach

Indicates something is easily accessible or achievable.

on the horizon

Suggests that something is approaching or will happen in the future.

drawing close

Implies that something is approaching gradually, either in time or space.

hardly distant

States that something is not far away.

almost adjacent

Highlights physical closeness, implying a shared boundary.

within a hair's breadth

Indicates something is extremely close to occurring, often implying a narrow escape or miss.

FAQs

How can I use "very near" in a sentence?

You can use "very near" to describe physical proximity, such as "The station is "very near" the hotel", or to indicate that an event is imminent, like "The end of the project is "very near"".

What phrases can I use instead of "very near"?

Alternatives include "in close proximity", "just around the corner", or "in the immediate vicinity" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "very near to"?

While grammatically acceptable, "very near" is often preferred as it's more concise. For example, "The museum is "very near" the park" is more common than "The museum is "very near to" the park."

How does the meaning of "very near" change depending on the context?

When referring to physical space, "very near" indicates a short distance. When referring to time, it means something will happen soon. The specific interpretation relies on the surrounding words and situation; therefore "drawing close" is typically used for gradual events.