[Vocabulary] Exactly vs really

[Vicky42]

Hello everyone,

Here's a multiple choice exercise:

Will it ever be possible for us to know ____________ what our pets are thinking or feeling?

A exactly B really C absolutely totally

The correct answer is exactly and my question is, why not really?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tdol]

Position- I'd use to really know or really to know.

 

[Vicky42]

Thank you!

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hello everyone,

Here's a multiple choice exercise:

Will it ever be possible for us to know ____________ what our pets are thinking or feeling?

A exactly B really C absolutely totally

The correct answer is exactly and my question is, why not really?

Thanks for your help!

"Really" could also be used later in the sentence: Will it ever be possible for us to know what our pets are really thinking or feeling?

 

[Vicky42]

Thanks Mike.

Now the hardest part... trying to figure out a rule.

...for us to really know what our pets are thinking...
...for us really to know what our pets are thinking...
...for us to know what our pets are really thinking...

"Really" modifies a verb.

...for us to know exactly what our pets are thinking...

"Exactly" modifies a clause.

I suppose it makes sense...

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks Mike.

Now the hardest part... trying to figure out a rule.

...for us to really know what our pets are thinking...
...for us really to know what our pets are thinking...
...for us to know what our pets are really thinking...

"Really" modifies a verb.

...for us to know exactly what our pets are thinking...

"Exactly" modifies a clause.

I suppose it makes sense...

I am not sure I agree with that rule. Both words are adverbs. Adverbs normally modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. The main difference, as TDOL posted, is the position in which they are used.