happy And Funniest has been used as the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective happy for more than a century, although many people prefer to use happier And happiest.
Some people find it interesting to use this word happy as an adjective. Others were more than happy to inform this group that happy is actually a noun, not an adjective, and even if it is used in this way the comparative form of Funny people is an abomination. And sometimes the first group finds it most enjoyable to tell the anti-happy brigade to stick it to their hats. In good spirits, let’s consider both sides of this debate.
Early use of joy as an adjective
The earliest use of happy is slang or regionalism, appearing in the late 17th century as either a verb (“to deceive a person”) or a noun (“instance of cheating or deceiving”). The meaning of the word “enjoy” appeared in the early 18th century, and for the next hundred years or so, the word was completely free of adjective impurities, and all was well with the world.
However, at the beginning of the 19th century, things began to fall apart, when some rogues began to use happy in ways that look certain to be adjectives. While it is common to blame American English speakers for using such outrageous language, in this case it appears to have occurred on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time.
We have passed the contact information to the owners, only asking the following question again:—“Having fun, after promising to bring passengers ashore, from the seeam-Dublin package (sic), to take them around the Floating Light.”— Liverpool mercury (Liverpool, England), September 16, 1825
The editor continued that this practice could make the officer happy – it could satisfy an evil heart; but that is something a Turk would be ashamed to do in his own country.— America’s Daily Advertiser and Commercial (Baltimore, MD), April 12, 1826
At eight o’clock, one accidentally saw a deck of cards on the cloak and they, half-seriously, half-jolly, opened it and threw it on the table.— The Observer (London, England), October 29, 1826
Few, if any, manuals or commentators weighed in on the matter until the mid-20th century, possibly due to the adjective’s use of happy has been restrained, or has been deemed so rude, that it does not deserve consideration. By 1960, however, the problem had been resolved, and it was felt very strongly against allowing this particular form of functional transformation.
Question: Can fun be used as an adjective, as in the sentence “We had a good time?” GJ Answer: I can’t hear it without causing severe nausea.— Bergen Evans, Austin statesman (Austin, TX), October 6, 1960
When I was in college I was trying to achieve some standard for my life. I am determined never to be friends with people who use the word “fun” as an adjective.— Judith Martin, Austin statesman (Austin, Texas), May 13, 1971
Despite what the dictionary says, joy is not an adjective for fluent adults.— Ronald Kohl, Draftsmanship (Cleveland, OH), July 24, 1997
The appearance of Funner and Funnest
However, as often happens, general use has rudely pushed protesters out of the way and happy is now defined as an adjective in every modern dictionary. It is still quite common to see usage notes added to these entries, warning that the adjective happy is informal, and should be avoided in formal speech or writing. Once it became clear that happy is actually an adjective that people start to wonder about how to use the word in its comparative and superlative forms. something can be Funny people more than something else? If you have reached the pinnacle of happy you can rightly say that it is Funniest thing ever? Both forms have been used for over a hundred years, although neither is found in what we might call advanced prose.
This new work is said to have a greater standard, both in terms of literary and artistic value. It has lots of pictures with the funniest descriptions.— Boston GlobeOctober 30, 1881
Harry Robinson, with his light dexterity was immense, and on the Ferris wheel which was the funniest act ever put on a show, the audience couldn’t stop laughing, they screamed and howled with delight. beast.— Atchinson Daily Champion (Atchison, KS), September 30, 1877
But the coolest thing about the hall was that I never found out about it until I got home, when I got home my wife pushed the caucep pan in my face and a miserable granddaughter threw it. my bran out of my old corpse…— Star (Saint Peter Port, Eng.), July 13, 1876
“Open House,” HT Byron’s final comedy, will be performed at Vaudeville in London. It was supposed to be more fun than “Our Boys.”— Lucifer (Washington, DC), May 9, 1885
A Rag Baby!—With—Mr. Frank Daniels, The Inimitable Comedian, in His Great Creation, Old Sport! Everything is new and more exciting than ever.— (Advt.) Salt Lake Evening Democrats (Salt Lake City, UT), May 3, 1887
The comedy has been refreshed, but it’s no more fun than the first version.— buffalo trade (Buffalo, NY), October 9, 1894
Funner and Funnest are (Sometimes) Real
Our entry for the adjective happy Statuses”Sometimes cheerful; Sometimes Funniest.” This is because there are many people who actually use these words, and there are many others, even though they may allow it. happy is an adjective, especially liking that things ‘more’ happy,’ or ‘most happy.’
The comparative and superlative forms of English adjectives can be complicated things. There are some like modified with –Hey or –estimatesome work better with than or most ofand still others (such as Good And bad) have completely different words. It is not difficult to find exceptions to any of the rules regarding these words. For example, bad often become worse And the worstalthough there are hundreds of uses of uglier And worst varies across eras and registers.
And so, the worst can become the good, if they accept chaos.—Thomas Churchyard, Light of friendship1588
Worst guy since ‘Shaft’!— (Advt.) Chicago defenderAugust 12, 1972
in fact Funny people And Funniest Just because they exist doesn’t mean you should use them without thinking it would make some people feel weird. If you write them in a semester paper, you’ll get frustrated sighs and equally underlined corrections from your teacher. But words that disappoint are still words – if they really don’t exist, there’s no point in being disappointed.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
