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MrPedant Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Fun is a weird word -- or is it?

"«Claremac:» Has anyone wondered about 'very fun'? I try to explain the conventional difference between the adjectival use of fun and funny to my Spanish students (of English) but they find it hard to understand why we can say 'great/really fun' but not 'very fun' and I find it hard to explain. Hasn't 'fun' always been a bit weird, in the sense that an attribute can normally be modified (the tree is very, extremely, quite, etc. tall) but you can't do this with fun, or can you?"

I think I might have an explanation and know how to answer the question, but I'd like to have someone else's learned opinion as backup.
  

Top answer

MrPedant "«Claremac:» Has anyone wondered about 'very fun'? I try to explain the conventional difference between the adjectival use of fun and funny to my Spanish students (of English) but they find it hard to understand why we can say 'great/really fun' but not 'very fun' and I find it hard to explain. Hasn't 'fun' always been a bit weird, in the sense that an attribute can normally be modified (the tree is very, extremely, quite, etc.

— Hrsanei

  • MrPedant "«Claremac:» Has anyone wondered about 'very fun'?
  • I try to explain the conventional difference between the adjectival use of fun and funny to my Spanish students (of English) but they find it hard to understand why we can say 'great/really fun' but not 'very fun' and I find it hard to explain.
  • Hasn't 'fun' always been a bit weird, in the sense that an attribute can normally be modified (the tree is very, extremely, quite, etc.
  • " because fun is a noun but tall is an adjective.
  • I think I might have an explanation and know how to answer the question, but I'd like to have someone else's learned opinion as backup.
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3 Answers
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MrPedant"«Claremac:» Has anyone wondered about 'very fun'? I try to explain the conventional difference between the adjectival use of fun and funny to my Spanish students (of English) but they find it hard to understand why we can say 'great/really fun' but not 'very fun' and I find it hard to explain. Hasn't 'fun' always been a bit weird, in the sense that an attribute c
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'Very fun' - It is non- native.

Why don't you try to make it to the party; it'd be a lot of fun. - It is fine

It will be very fun - is understoood, but substandard English.
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MrPedantHasn't 'fun' always been a bit weird
Yes. It's weird.

See

CJ
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