In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Hi!
Greeting Conversation
B: I’m doing well. How about you?
A: Never better, thanks.
B: So how have you been lately?
A: I’ve actually been pretty good. You?
B: I’m actually in school right now.
A: Which school do you attend?
B: I’m attending PCC right now.
A: Are you enjoying it there?
B: It’s not bad. There are a lot of people there.
A: Good luck with that.
B: Thanks.
I’ve actually been pretty good. You?
Is “actually” an adjective here?
And what does it mean?
What it is contrasted to can be pretty vague. Sometimes it can have no meaning at all. When it has no meaning, it is more like an interjection. It might convey a mood.
“I’m actually pretty good”
This can convey a positive mood. As Torsten mentioned, it emphasizes the fact that they are feeling pretty good (as oppsoed to feeling bad). But it does not do it directly. It conveys a positive mood. It is upbeat, cheerful and happy.
As a word of contrast
I’m actually pretty good.
This can contrast to what might be expected. It can mean “I am feeling better than expected.”
However, in the given example, I think it expresses a mood rather than a contrast.
As a habitual word
“Actually”, can be used habitually. If you know the person well, and know they use the word habitually, then it might have no meaning at all. It simply becomes part of the person’s speech pattern.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 