aprender ingles - fun vs funny

La diferencia entre fun y funny

We have funny

Hay una confusión muy grande entre fun y funny. Cuando mis alumnos me cuentan lo que hicieron el fin de semana pasada, suelen decir “It was funny” cuando quieren decir “It was fun”. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre fun y funny?

Fun…

…means something that you enjoy – diversion, disfrutar. It´s something that you enjoy doing – you have a good time doing it.

The party is fun. = La fiesta es divertida.

ingles - fun and funny

We can use have + fun to talk about our experience or to wish someone a good time.

We had fun together at the party yesterday. = Nos divertimos juntos en la fiesta ayer.

I hope you have fun! = ¡Espero que te diviertas!

Have fun! = ¡Diviértete!

Funny…

…means humorous, amusing or causing laughter –gracioso, chistoso o cómico. You use this emoji when something is funny (makes you laugh).

ingles funny

The movie was funny. = La película era cómica.

 

A typical error…

We don’t use funny to mean ‘enjoyable’:

My holiday in Spain was really funny fun. It is a very interesting and beautiful country.

Compare these examples:

John is a fun guy. (I have a good time when I am with John)
John is a funny guy. (John makes me laugh)

 

Fun and funny can also be used in negative sentences…

Taking a difficult exam is not fun.

Nobody laughed because her joke was not funny.

Have a look at this dialogue:

Andrew and Vimala are classmates and are talking after school.

Vimala: Hi Andrew! How was your weekend?

Andrew: It was great! We saw that new comedy movie.

Vimala: Oh, really? How was it?

Andrew: It was really funny! I laughed so much!

Vimala: That’s great. Well, I have to go. I have dance class in 10 minutes.

Andrew: Ok, have fun!

 

Funny = Strange

Funny can also mean ‘strange’, ‘surprising’, ‘unexpected’ or ‘difficult to explain or understand’-extraño, sorprendente, inesperado o difícil de explicar o entender.

Our teacher was wearing a funny hat.

Wasn’t it funny the way Caitlin left the party without saying goodbye?

 

An important note…

When we compare two things with fun, we use more fun.

I like the zoo, but the amusement park is more fun.

And the superlative is the most fun.

That was the most fun I’ve ever had at a party!

With funny, the comparative form is funnier and the superlative form is the funniest.

My brother is funnier than my dad.

Who do you think is the funniest comedian?

ComparativeSuperlative
Funmore funthe most fun
Funnyfunnierthe funniest

Let’s practice. Are these situations fun or funny?

You can find the answers at the end of the article.

  1. A party with your friends is…
  2. A clown is…
  3. Playing a game is…
  4. Visiting new places is…
  5. A friend tells you a great joke. The joke is…
  6. A comedian is….
  7. Going to an amusement park is …

Video

Check out this video from Woodward English on when to use fun and funny. There are even some bad jokes at the end!

Podcast

Listen to this podcast from All Ears English about how to use fun and funny.

In conclusion…

Fun = Enjoyable

Funny = It makes you laugh, Hahahaha

And finally, here’s a joke for you:

ingles-funny-joke

Do you think the joke is funny?

Answers:
1. Fun 2. Funny 3. Fun 4. Fun 5. Funny 6: Funny 7: Fun
Image sources:
http://www.writeawriting.com/how-to-write/mission-statement-fun-committee/
https://twitter.com/autocorrects
https://www.calpaclab.com/science-jokes/

twbagnallAcerca de twbagnall

Profesores particulares y *nativos de Inglés que imparten clases en PYMES, empresas, academias, escuelas y a particulares en Madrid, Barcelona y España. Si necesita profesores de inglés, aquí encontrará la mejor selección. Todos ellos cuentan con experiencia como docentes y han sido previamente seleccionados por nosotros por su profesionalidad además de tener, como minimo, titulación específica para impartir clases de inglés como TESOL. *En profesoringles.net el término nativo/a significa que el profesor tiene un nivel nativo del idioma y lo domina completamente, al igual que una persona nativa de un país anglófono.

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