Cool MateThis very afternoon vs Today
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
This very afternoon
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Today
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Today
| This very afternoon | Today | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ˈvɛri ˌɑːf.təˈnuːn//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ˈvɛri ˌæf.tɚˈnun// | 🇬🇧 /["/təˈdeɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/təˈdeɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | This afternoon or later today. | The current day. |
| Example | She'll call you this very afternoon with the details. | I've got a piano lesson later today. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | meet this very afternoon, call this very afternoon, finish this very afternoon | today's news, today's meeting, today's date |
| Antonyms | - | yesterday, tomorrow |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'this afternoon', Used in the past tense incorrectly, e.g., 'This very afternoon, I went.' | Using 'today' when referring to a future day., Confusing 'today' with 'now' or 'this week'. |
| Usage notes | Used in conversation or writing to refer to the same day. Common in formal and informal contexts; may not be suitable for very casual speech. | Used to refer to the present day. Appropriate in most contexts, both speaking and writing. Avoid using in formal contexts where a more specific date might be required. |
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Frequently asked questions: This very afternoon vs Today
What's the difference between This very afternoon and Today?
This very afternoon: This afternoon or later today. Today: The current day.
Which is more common: This very afternoon and Today?
Today is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
This very afternoon: She'll call you this very afternoon with the details. Today: I've got a piano lesson later today.
Can I use This very afternoon and Today interchangeably?
Not always. This very afternoon and Today 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.