this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023
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English usage and grammar

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What are the comparative and superlative of the adjective "fun"? I'd say "more fun" and "most fun"...

But I'm somehow slightly tempted by "funnier" and "funniest", which should be for "funny" though, not "fun"...

I didn't find anything about this in the main dictionaries.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago (3 children)

funny (the adjective) -> funnier

fun (the noun) -> more fun

[–] antony 5 points 2 years ago

Which, by implication, means you can technically have "funnier fun" but not "more funnier" but should probably avoid both of these strange constructs.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Thank you! I found and interesting note about "fun" (and also "funner", towards the end) in Gilman – I'm including a snapshot for the curious. "Funny" appears too :)

[–] Smatt 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

True. But people do say "funner" informally. "Darts are funner than bowling."

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah, languages are living things. That makes them so much fun.

[–] corsicanguppy 4 points 2 years ago

So are toddlers. Let's prevent both from wandering off into the woods.

[–] corsicanguppy 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

People say 'snuck', too. This is how languages go off the rails and acquire exceptions people complain about.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

"fun" -> "funner" is less of an exception than "fun" -> "more fun"

[–] Gleddified 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

"More funner", keep 'em on their toes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

😂 This is the way!