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When I’m very cold, I noticed I say “I’m very cold.” But why not “I’m cold much” or “I’m cold very much”?

You can say “I’m cold now” adverbs can be added and “be” and “cold” mean the same. Or, "I like James much".

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  • Why would you think that "I am cold much" is correct. Is there a similar sentence in English or another language that has this structure with "much" at the end?
    – James K
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:28
  • @James K Yes, but it’s not at the end.
    – user142741
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:32
  • @James K Because like “I’m cold now” adverbs can be added and “be” and “cold” mean the same. ex) I like James much.
    – user142741
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:33
  • "be" and "cold" don't mean the same, even if in other languages no copular verb is used. I know that Korean (for example) doesn't have a verb like "be" in English to join an adjective to a subject. English does. That doesn't mean that "be" means "cold".
    – James K
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:56

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The adverb to modify the adjective "cold" is placed before the adjective, not after it. That is just a "rule" of grammar.

The correct adverb to use is "very" and not "much". That is the meaning of "very".

In the other examples you give, the adverb modifies the verb. "I'm cold now", the adverb now gives the time of "being", it doesn't modify the adjective "cold". "I like James much" is not good English, "I like James a lot" is correct, but again the adverb "a lot" modifies "like" not "James".

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  • “a lot” can’t modify an adjective?
    – user142741
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:56
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    No. You say "very cold" not "a lot cold". "I'm cold a lot" would mean "I'm cold often", and the adverb is modifying the verb.
    – James K
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:58
  • But together in we are close together modifies close after an adjective.
    – user142741
    Aug 30, 2021 at 9:59
  • "close together" is a compound, like "far apart". It functions as a single word.
    – James K
    Aug 30, 2021 at 10:00
  • But that's irrelevant since "together" is a different word from "a lot" or "very" or "much" There's no reason why a different word should have the same grammar rules.
    – James K
    Aug 30, 2021 at 10:01

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