Cool MateExcellent vs Very good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Very good
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Excellent | Very good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈvɛri ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //ˈvɛri ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | very good or great | Really nice or great. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | The food at this restaurant is very good. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | very good news, very good friend, very good performance |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Using 'very goodly' instead of 'very good', Confusing with 'really good' - both are correct but might sound different in usage, Overuse can make it sound less genuine |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Used to express approval or satisfaction. Can be informal among friends, but appropriate in many contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs Very good
What's the difference between Excellent and Very good?
Excellent: very good or great Very good: Really nice or great.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. Very good: The food at this restaurant is very good.
Can I use Excellent and Very good interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent and Very good are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.