Learn French: Vous riez beaucoup ensemble, c'est très drôle. - You laugh a lot together, it is very funny.

This shows exactly how these two words work! We use beaucoup (a lot) to describe an action, so it pairs with the verb riez (laugh). We use très (very) to describe a quality, so it pairs with the adjective drôle (funny).

Could I swap them and say c'est beaucoup drôle?

No, that would sound very strange in French! You cannot use beaucoup directly before an adjective like drôle. You must use très for descriptions.

Why does beaucoup come before ensemble?

In French, adverbs that tell you how much an action happens (like beaucoup) stick very close to the verb. They almost always go directly after the conjugated verb, so it must follow riez immediately, before other details like ensemble (together).

Can I combine them and say très beaucoup to mean very much?

This is a common trap, but no! The phrase très beaucoup does not exist in French. Beaucoup already means 'a lot' or 'very much' all on its own.

What is the dictionary form of the verb riez?