greatly or (very) much: ‘His work is much admired.’ ‘This courageous woman, who helped so many of us, will be greatly missed.’ 4
Although he was very in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry a rich heiress.
Although he was very much in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry a rich heiress.. Very is not used before a phrase beginning with a preposition (e.g. ‘in love with’, ‘in need of’, ‘at odds with’). However, in such cases it is often possible to use very much : ‘These proposals are very much in keeping with the President’s own ideas.’ Note the alternative: ‘Although he was deeply in love ... very much 1
I enjoyed very much my stay in the USA.
I enjoyed my stay in the USA very much. I would like very much to visit some of the places that I have been reading about.
I would very much like to visit some of the places that I have been reading about. Do not put very much between a verb (e.g. ‘enjoyed’) and its object (e.g. ‘my stay in the USA’). When the object is short, very much goes at the end of the sentence or in front of the verb. When the object is long, very much usually goes in front of the verb: ‘I very much hope that you and your family have a safe journey.’ 2
It costs very much.
It costs a lot (of money). New doors cost very much because wood is so expensive.
New doors cost a lot (of money) because wood is so expensive.
