[etni] Fw: re: Very funny but not very fun?

  • From: "Ask" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 21:35:01 +0200

----- Original Message ----- From: "Avraham J. Roos" <avrahamroos@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [etni] Fw: Very funny but not very fun?



Fun is not an adjective but a noun, funny is the adjective Very is used to strengthen an adjective (very big) Great is used to strengthen a noun (great fun, great city) )

I always tell my Hebrew students to be careful with the word
very because they use it in sentences like:
I very like pizza.
I explain to them that very must refer to an adjective and
cannot qualify a verb.

Avraham Roos


You wrote:
A student of mine stumped me with a question. Why is 'It was very fun' incorrect and 'It was great fun' correct? He pointed out to me that 'It was very big', using 'very' to strengthen to the adjective is fine.

To make life more confusing if I use 'great' as an adjective, as in 'Nineveh was a very great city' I have no problems. Just try reversing the order.
Is this just usage?

##### To send a message to the ETNI list email: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ##### ##### Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx #####

Other related posts: