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Sally2008 Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

I was tan or tanned?

0How can we say it,02br
02br
00I was tan or I was tanned? I know we can say "you look tan" but can we also say " I am not so tanned"02br
02br
00Thank you0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 00As in: 01i 00Ooh, look at this picture of me! 02i 0-

  • 02br 02br 00As in: 01i 00Ooh, look at this picture of me!
  • 02i 0-
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16 Answers
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0In American English, I think you just stick with "tan." Leather can be tanned, but I think people just tan.02br
02br
00As in: 01i00Ooh, look at this picture of me! I look so tan!02i0-
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0Thank you 050010id1
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0 I think 01b00tanned02b00 is valid in AmE too, see from the New York Times:02br
02br
01h2

05002h2

01table01tr01td
00She 01b00was tanned02b00 and fit, but not exactly as thin as might be expected. She had a few bad habits. Another shot of Trac
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0You're right - those sound fine to my ear too. I think it's up to you to choose, but just use it the same way throughout. That is, don't say "She was tanned" in one place and "I was tan" in another.0-
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0 In British English 'tanned' is correct. 'tan' is a noun only. She has a lovely tan. She is tanned. 0-
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0Thank you, it was very useful 050010id1
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0Hi guys,02br
02br
00I see 'tan' as an adjective as well as a noun.02br
02br
00eg 01font00she wore a 01font00tan02font00 sweater.02font02br
02br
00Clive0-
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0 In other contexts, yes, it is the name of the colour. But in Brit English we don't apply that to people. 0-
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Thank you. That is great to know.
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I'm Australian, and it's always 'tanned' here. But I would contend that is what it's intended to be in American English, too. I always used to read/hear 'tanned' in American media and books, and it's only in recent years 'tan' is usually said. I believe it's incorrect but is so commonly used now that it sounds more correct to many people. In such cases, you cannot trust what simply sounds right t

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