I don't usually chime in here, but I thought I'd just pop in to register my interest in, but disagreement with, your claims. When I say that a suitcase is full, I usually mean that something occupies every part of it; but if I say that a suitcase is very full, then I mean that it is essentially stuffed to its limit (& I would use those words similarly about my stomach after a meal). So, for me, "very full" is always more, not less, full than just "full." A library reading room or train car or automobile engine that is very quiet, in my ordinary usage, is certainly quieter than one that is merely quiet. I suppose you may really be commenting not on the actual meaning of "very" in those cases but on what it leads you to imagine about the circumstances under which it's uttered. Personally, I have less hope of an empty seat beside me when the flight attendant announces a "very full"—rather than simply a "full"—flight. But maybe I take things too literally. My own usage of "very" alongside "soon" aligns with my usage of it alongside "full" (i.e. always as an intensifier), but I won't deny that if I heard it used in the example you offer, I might come to a similar conclusion.
I don't feel like very quiet is less than quiet, or very possible is less than possible. I use 'very' when I mean 'very' - MORE than quiet or MORE than possible. I think you may be talking about the use of very in a specific context.
Whey they say 'a very full plane', you may have less hope, but the message is that the plane is even fuller than you thought - in other words MORE, not less.
Interesting take but I still don’t agree. Mainly because “full” and “quiet” alone mean 100% that condition. If you’re adding “very” to it you’re only diminishing the term. “Soon” isn’t defined as precisely, so I understand if we disagree there. Maybe others will chime in.
I’m with Elly. Full might mean 100% technically, but not in practice for plane flights I’ve been on. Quiet doesn’t mean 100% noiseless to me. I’m very sure this is how I interpret these words.
I agree 100% with your sentiment. I've been trying to remove "very" from my vernacular because of reasons like this but also because there are other words that can be used in its place or ideally no word as you said since much of a statement's importance can be determined through context like what some other languages rely on.
I don't usually chime in here, but I thought I'd just pop in to register my interest in, but disagreement with, your claims. When I say that a suitcase is full, I usually mean that something occupies every part of it; but if I say that a suitcase is very full, then I mean that it is essentially stuffed to its limit (& I would use those words similarly about my stomach after a meal). So, for me, "very full" is always more, not less, full than just "full." A library reading room or train car or automobile engine that is very quiet, in my ordinary usage, is certainly quieter than one that is merely quiet. I suppose you may really be commenting not on the actual meaning of "very" in those cases but on what it leads you to imagine about the circumstances under which it's uttered. Personally, I have less hope of an empty seat beside me when the flight attendant announces a "very full"—rather than simply a "full"—flight. But maybe I take things too literally. My own usage of "very" alongside "soon" aligns with my usage of it alongside "full" (i.e. always as an intensifier), but I won't deny that if I heard it used in the example you offer, I might come to a similar conclusion.
Here's another one: "So perfect" is less perfect than "perfect".
This reminds me of when my kids were little and they’d ask for something and my reply would be “we’ll see” they said that means “its a no”.
I don't feel like very quiet is less than quiet, or very possible is less than possible. I use 'very' when I mean 'very' - MORE than quiet or MORE than possible. I think you may be talking about the use of very in a specific context.
Whey they say 'a very full plane', you may have less hope, but the message is that the plane is even fuller than you thought - in other words MORE, not less.
I hope you reply to this comment very soon...
Interesting take but I still don’t agree. Mainly because “full” and “quiet” alone mean 100% that condition. If you’re adding “very” to it you’re only diminishing the term. “Soon” isn’t defined as precisely, so I understand if we disagree there. Maybe others will chime in.
I’m with Elly. Full might mean 100% technically, but not in practice for plane flights I’ve been on. Quiet doesn’t mean 100% noiseless to me. I’m very sure this is how I interpret these words.
Better Columbus than Colombia.
Very full definitely less full than full.
But very soon I think means sooner than soon.
I agree 100% with your sentiment. I've been trying to remove "very" from my vernacular because of reasons like this but also because there are other words that can be used in its place or ideally no word as you said since much of a statement's importance can be determined through context like what some other languages rely on.