Cool MateReally vs You really do
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
You really do
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Really
| Really | You really do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː ˈrɪəli duː//🇺🇸 //ju ˈrɪəli du// |
| Meaning | very or truly | You actually are doing something. |
| Example | I really enjoy going to the beach. | You really do care about your friends. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important | make a difference, take it seriously, work hard |
| Antonyms | seldom, never | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it in place of 'real' when describing a noun., Confusing it with 'really' in terms of degree, e.g., 'really good' instead of 'very good'. | Misusing it in overly formal situations., Adding unnecessary words that change the meaning., Using it as a standalone answer without context. |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb. It can be informal in casual conversations but is accepted in most contexts; avoid overusing it in formal writing. | Use this phrase to emphasize someone's actions or characteristics. It is neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Really vs You really do
What's the difference between Really and You really do?
Really: very or truly You really do: You actually are doing something.
Which is more common: Really and You really do?
Really is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Really: I really enjoy going to the beach. You really do: You really do care about your friends.
Can I use Really and You really do interchangeably?
Not always. Really and You really do 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.