indeed

indeed — adverb

1. used to add force to a statement, either by intensifying an adjective after 'ver

1.副詞B1
釋義

used to add force to a statement, either by intensifying an adjective after 'very' or by stressing that something is certainly true — for example, saying that a winter was 'very cold indeed', or that a colleague is 'indeed a talented engineer'.

例句

The winter in Hokkaido was very cold indeed, so Minho wore two coats every day.

pattern: very + cold + indeed after 'be'

It is indeed a great honour to receive this award from the University of Tokyo.

pattern: indeed before a noun phrase with 'a'

同義詞
  • certainly

    more natural in everyday speech; works in more sentence positions

  • truly

    more emotional and personal; common with feelings ('truly grateful')

  • undeniably

    more formal; suggests the fact is impossible to dispute

文法句型

be + very + adjective + indeed

subject + be + indeed + noun_phrase / complement

it + be + indeed + noun_phrase + to-infinitive

用法筆記

In the 'very + adjective + indeed' pattern, 'indeed' must come immediately after the adjective ('very cold indeed', NOT 'indeed very cold'). Without 'very', 'indeed' follows the verb 'be' ('He is indeed a gentleman').

常見錯誤

❌I indeed like this movie.
✅I do indeed like this movie.
💡When 'indeed' emphasises a main verb that is not 'be', you need an auxiliary verb ('do/does/did/have') before 'indeed'.
❌The weather indeed is cold this morning.
✅The weather is indeed cold this morning.
💡'Indeed' follows the verb 'be', it does not come between the subject and the verb.

2. used to agree that something someone has asked or said is correct — for example,

2.副詞B1
釋義

used to agree that something someone has asked or said is correct — for example, replying 'Yes, indeed I did' when asked whether you finished the report, or saying 'It is indeed' to confirm an address.

例句

'Did Mateo remember to bring the camping gear?' 'Yes, indeed he did — he packed everything last night.'

pattern: 'Yes, indeed + subject + did' in answer to a yes-no question

'Is the entrance on the left?' 'It is indeed. Look for the glass door.'

pattern: 'it is indeed' as a short confirming reply

同義詞
  • yes

    simpler and more direct; 'indeed' adds a formal or emphatic tone

  • of course

    implies the answer is obvious; stronger and more conversational

  • absolutely

    more forceful and enthusiastic than 'indeed'

文法句型

Yes, indeed + subject + auxiliary_verb

Indeed + subject + auxiliary_verb

subject + be + indeed

用法筆記

When confirming a question, the auxiliary verb must match the one used in the question ('Did he? → Indeed he did'; 'Has she? → Indeed she has'). In very informal speech, the auxiliary can be dropped ('Indeed!' alone), but this may sound abrupt.

常見錯誤

❌Are you coming to the party?' 'Indeed.
✅Are you coming to the party?' 'Yes, indeed I am.
💡A bare 'Indeed' as a reply can sound rude or oddly formal; pair it with 'Yes' and an auxiliary verb for a natural response.

3. used to introduce additional information that reinforces or extends a previous p

3.副詞B2
釋義

used to introduce additional information that reinforces or extends a previous point, often by presenting a stronger or more precise fact — for example, saying a new policy saved money and then adding 'Indeed, it cut costs by half.'

例句

The new software saved the team hours of work. Indeed, it cut their data processing time in half.

sentence-initial 'indeed' adding a stronger supporting fact

Ayesha is widely admired for her generosity. Indeed, she has donated thousands of pounds to community projects across London.

同義詞
  • in fact

    more natural in spoken English; carries the same elaborating function

  • what is more

    adds an extra point but is weaker than 'indeed' in intensity

  • as a matter of fact

    more conversational and slightly informal compared to 'indeed'

文法句型

[statement]. Indeed, + [stronger / more specific statement]

用法筆記

This use of 'indeed' is more common in formal writing and speeches than in casual conversation. In everyday speech, 'in fact' or 'actually' often replace it. 'Indeed' at the start of a sentence is always followed by a comma.

常見錯誤

❌I like coffee. Indeed, I drink it every morning.
✅I like coffee. In fact, I drink it every morning.
💡'Indeed' sounds too formal for a simple everyday statement; use 'in fact' or 'actually' for casual elaboration.
❌The restaurant was good. Indeed it was very good.
✅The restaurant was good. Indeed, it was excellent.
💡'Indeed' should lead to a clearly stronger or more specific point, not a mild restatement.

indeed — exclamation