Not really means not very, not exactly, more like no. Asked about a film, it's a polite 'I didn't like it', not 'I half liked it'. With an adjective it softens: I'm not really hungry. With a verb it disagrees gently: I don't really agree. But I really don't like it means you dislike it a lot.
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Not really; not really + adjective; don't really + verb
- 'Did you enjoy the film?' 'Not really. The ending felt rushed.'
- I'm not really hungry, but I could have some tea.
- I don't really agree with the last point.
What changed
First versionI'm not really agree with that explanation.
RevisionI don't really agree with that explanation.
I'm not really sure is correct, so I'm not really agree seems to follow the same pattern. But agree is a verb, and a verb needs don't: I don't really agree. Keep am not for adjectives: I'm not really sure.
Not at all is a firm 'not in the slightest': I'm not at all tired. Not really is a soft 'not much'. Asked 'Tired?', Not at all means 'not one bit', while Not really means 'not especially'.
Your turn
Complete the sentence with the verb agree: I ___ really agree with the conclusion.
Show the answer
don't — Agree is a verb, so the negative is built with don't: I don't really agree. Am not would fit an adjective: I'm not really sure.
A friend invites you to a horror film, and you don't enjoy them. Turn the invitation down gently in one sentence with not really.
Thanks, but I don't really like horror films, so I'll skip this one.
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