when or while?

[nessie]

And... is the use of "so very" in this sentence common, Amy?
How is it possible for him to be so fat when everyone else in his family is so very thin?

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

'So very' is a bit more emphatic than just 'so'. Here are some examples from the BNC (You prefer BE, right? ):

- Why does it increase so very much in January and February?
- Even through the years before myxomatosis rabbits were vulnerable to disease simply because there were so very many of them.
- All of this was so very different from the earlier period of Hebrew history...
- Is it so very wrong?
- My gratitude to the top designers for their wonderful patterns, the Teach-in series and oh so very much more.
- "I'm so very sorry," she said.
- It has all become so very clear.
- On these occasions, it is hard to realise that not so very far away, industry and commerce are hard at work.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[vaok]

nessie and I have the same question on page 1. thanks.