Meaning of "very first everning"

[Ann]

Common Errors in English, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #9 "This way and that", question 7

On their very first evening he told his wife he was just going out for a short walking but it was really to buy her some flowers.

(a) very first
(b) just
(c) walking
(d) really

Common Errors in English, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #9 "This way and that", answer 7

On their very first evening he told his wife he was just going out for a short walk but it was really to buy her some flowers.

Correct entry: walk
The error was: (c) walking

You have not found the error.
On their first evening he told his wife he was just going out for a short walking but it was really to buy her some flowers.
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Hello,

Why do you use "very first everning"?
What does it mean?
Can I use it in the real life?

Thank you very much.

Ann

[Yankee]

Hi Ann

"The first evening" and "the very first evening" basically mean the same thing. The word "very" simply emphasizes the idea of first. Use "very first" if you want to stress that it wasn't just one of the first evenings, but definitely the first of all.

And yes, it's quite normal to use "very first" that way in real life.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English