Mucho

[irmamar]

Instead of saying:

I kike this writer a lot.

may I say: I like this writer very much?

Ya empiezo a dudar de todo. Thanks.

[poli]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Instead of saying:

I kike this writer a lot.

may I say: I like this writer very much?

Ya empiezo a dudar de todo. Thanks.

I like this writer a lot = I like this writer very much.
Very much seems a little bit more formal to me, but they have the same meaning.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Instead of saying:

I kike this writer a lot.

may I say: I like this writer very much?

Ya empiezo a dudar de todo. Thanks.

Both would be OK, but instead of "kike" use "like", it looks better...

[pjt33]

I think "I like this writer very much" sounds a bit childish, but that probably tells you more about the books I read as a child than the general usage of the language.

[laepelba]

I don't know about "childish", but "very much" wouldn't be as commonly used in that sentence. I'm torn in how to answer you, though, because I believe that "a lot" is much LESS formal ... almost TOO casual. I try not to say "a lot" in my classroom very often (as well as other casual phrases) ... because I feel like it makes me sound too laid back with my students.

It also depends on the context in which you're making this statement. If asked "How much do you like this author?" you would definitely sound fine to say "I like this author very much."

[JPablo]

Hey, thanks a lot to everybody!
(Even though it was not my question, and excuse me for being a little bit laid-back.)

Irmamar, a lot of people like some authors, because they are fun... = A un montón de gente le gustan algunos escritores por que son divertidos... I like Dan Brown very much. = Me gusta mucho Dan Brown. I like a lot Dan Brown. = Dan Brown me gusta un montón. I love Gosciny and Uderzo very much = Me gustan mucho Gosciny y Uderzo. I love Gosciny and Uderzo a lot. = Gosciny y Uderzo me molan un montonazo...

Just give you some examples of a "colloquial register" and one less informal, as I see it... Hope it helps even further...

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by JPablo

...
I like Dan Brown very much. = Me gusta mucho Dan Brown. I like a lot Dan Brown. = Dan Brown me gusta un montón.

The adverb sounds better at the end of the sentence.
I like Dan Brown a lot.

[JPablo]

Thank you, Rusty, I appreciate your comment/correction very much... I mean... a lot!
There are always details, lots of details, we Spaniards have to learn... But that is our lot, if we want to learn, and we cannot complain about it.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by chileno

Both would be OK, but instead of "kike" use "like", it looks better...

Thank you everybody.