ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pretty much

fixed phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. you use this to say that something is almost completely true or finished.

fixed phr.. an adverbial phrase used to indicate that a statement is very nearly accurate or that a task is almost entirely complete; functions as a colloquial intensifier for 'almost' or 'nearly'.


SIMPLE

I've pretty much finished my homework.

CONTEXTUAL

The two cars are pretty much the same, except for the color and the price.

COMPLEX

While the technical specifications differ slightly between the two models, their performance in real-world conditions is pretty much identical.

Usage

very common in spoken English but often avoided in formal academic writing.

Teaching tip

teach this as a more natural, conversational alternative to 'almost' or 'nearly' when speaking with friends or colleagues.

Pitfall

It is pretty much of finished.It is pretty much finished.do not use 'of' after this phrase when it modifies an adjective or a verb.

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