Adjectives are describing words, nouns are naming words and verbs are action words. In this article let us find out if “funny” is a describing word, naming word or an action word.
The word “funny” can be an adjective or a noun. The word “funny” is an adjective when it is modifying the singular or plural naming word (noun/ noun phrase/ pronoun) by giving additional details about it. The word “funny” is a noun when it is naming an idea, situation, thing, or thought.
By going through the 5 interesting facts, let us get to know why, when, and how, the word “funny” is an adjective and a noun and not a verb.
When is “funny” an adjective?
“Funny” is an adjective while it is describing, modifying, qualifying nouns. Here we will find out when and what the adjective “funny” describes.
The table below presents the various situations when the word “funny” performs the role of an adjective.
| Situations When “Funny” Is An Adjective | Examples | Explanations |
| 1. When used to qualify a naming word (a person, a thing, an idea, a situation, etc) that is amusing and leads to laughter | The standup comedy show that Rahul hosted yesterday was funny. | In this sentence, the adjective “funny” is modifying the naming word ‘standup comedy show’ (an event). The usage of “funny” here denotes that the comedy show that Rahul hosted yesterday was very amusing and hilarious. |
| 2. When used to modify a naming word that is strange, unusual, unexpected, odd, or peculiar in nature | The funny part was that we were not able to find our way out of the house which was more like a maze. | The adjective “funny” is indicating to us the strange, unexpected, and odd part when ‘we’ weren’t able to find the way out of the house which was like a maze. “Funny” is modifying the naming word ‘part’. |
| 3. When used to describe a naming word that is suspicious, illegal, wrong, and dishonest in nature | The board members found out that there were some funny activities happening in the finance department. | In this sentence, the adjective “funny” is qualifying the plural naming word ‘activities’. The usage of “funny” here indicates that the activities happening in the finance department were suspicious or illegal and it was found out by the board members. |
| 4. When used to qualify a naming word (a person or a thing) that is not functioning well because of illness or malfunction | I have been having some funny reactions in my stomach since morning. | “Funny”, the adjective used in this sentence is qualifying the naming word ‘reactions’, thereby telling us that ‘I’ have been having some illness in the stomach since the morning. |
Is “funny” a descriptive adjective?
Depending on how they describe the nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases, adjectives are classified into many types. A descriptive adjective is one of the various types of adjectives.
The adjective “funny” is a descriptive adjective as it gives additional details about the nouns (person, event, thing, idea, or situation) by describing their features, nature, states of mind, behavior, or attitude.
Example: The movie that we saw last week was both funny and adventurous.
In the above sentence, “funny” is an adjective as it is modifying the naming word ‘movie’. The additional information that the adjective “funny” provides is about the hilarious and amusing nature of the movie and hence, the adjective “funny” falls under the descriptive adjective type.
When is “funny” a descriptive adjective?
“Funny” functions as a descriptive adjective when the supplementary information it provides is about the hilarious, amusing, strange, ridiculous, odd, weird, suspicious, dishonest, illegal, not functioning or being well (ill) nature, characteristic feature, or behavior of a singular or plural noun.
The perusal of the examples in the following tabular column will provide a better understanding of the usage of “funny” as a descriptive adjective.
| Examples | Explanations – Usage Of “Funny” As A Descriptive Adjective |
| 1. The funny story that Sudha narrated in class is unforgettable. | “Funny”, the attributive descriptive adjective here is modifying the naming word ‘story’ by telling us the hilarious, entertaining, and amusing nature of the story which Sudha narrated in the class. |
| 2. Since I met him, I have been having some funny feelings. | The descriptive adjective “funny” is an attributive adjective here as it is qualifying the plural naming word ‘feelings’. The descriptive adjective “funny” is utilized to state the strange and weird nature of the feeling that ‘I’ has been having since he/ she met ‘him’. |
| 3. You are warned not to do any funny business else you have to face the consequences. | “Funny”, the attributive descriptive adjective in this sentence is denoting the wrong, suspicious nature of the business that ‘you’ are warned not to do. “Funny” is describing the naming word ‘business’ here. |
| 4. Since morning, my mobile phone is being funny. | The predicate descriptive adjective “funny” is here giving us additional details about the naming word ‘mobile phone’ (a thing) by stating that the mobile phone is not functioning properly since morning. |
| 5. Vihan has always loved to say and listen to funny jokes. | “Funny”, the attributive descriptive adjective in the given sentence is telling about the good-humored nature of the jokes that Vihaan loved to say and listen to by describing the plural naming word ‘jokes’. |
| 6. The food tasted funny and so I did not feel like eating. | “Funny” is the predicate descriptive adjective utilized here in order to tell us the strange and unpleasant taste of the food. The descriptive adjective “funny” is qualifying the noun ‘food’ by telling us the nature of the food. |
| 7. We are very sure that Surendar is involved in some sort of funny activities. | The attributive descriptive adjective “funny” in this sentence is describing the naming word ‘activities’. It is utilized to convey the illegal or suspicious nature of the activities that Surendar was involved in. |
Is “funny” a noun?
A noun is nothing but a word that names a person, animal, place, abstract feeling, thought, idea, or thing. Here we will see if “funny” is used for naming purposes.
The word “funny” can be a noun or is a noun as sometimes it is used for the purpose of naming something. The plural form of the word “funny” – ‘funnies’ also functions as a noun.
Example: In the bus, Ruhi was telling us a funny which all of us enjoyed.
In this sentence, the word “funny” is functioning as a noun since it is used for naming purposes. Here, the noun “funny” is naming a joke (a thing that is told for amusement) that Ruhi was telling and which all of ‘us’ enjoyed.
When is “funny” a noun?
The word “funny” is a noun when it names something that is comical or amusing, especially a joke. ‘Funnies’, the plural of the word “funny” is also a noun as it refers to the section of a magazine or newspaper that consists of comics and jokes.
The following tabular will aid in further understanding of how the word “funny” is utilized as a naming word (noun).
| Examples | Explanations – Usage Of “Funny” and ‘Funnies’ As A Noun |
| 1. The funny which Maya told us today morning was so silly. | “Funny” is a noun here as it is naming the joke that Maya told ‘us’ in the morning. |
| 2. Not everyone has the ability to create a funny on the spot, but Ahaana is quite good at it. | The word “funny” is functioning as a noun in this sentence since it is used for naming a jest or witticism that is created on the spot. |
| 3. My child, Rakhi reads only the funnies and the sports section in the newspaper | ‘Funnies’, the plural of the noun “funny” is naming the comic strips that Rakhi reads in the newspaper. |
| 4. Viraj tried to say a funny, but however ended up being teased by the entire class. | The noun “funny” in the given sentence is naming a joke, a banter, or a pun that Viraj tried to say, but however, failed to as he ended up being teased. |
| 5. Reading the funnies makes my mood light on a hectic day. | The plural form of the noun “funny”, ‘funnies’ is utilized to name the section of comics or jokes in a newspaper or magazine that makes ‘my’ mood light. |
Is “funny” a verb?
A word that indicates or represents the state of being, an action or activity that had occurred, is occurring, or will occur is a verb. Let us find out if “funny” represents an action.
The word “funny” is not a verb (action word) since it does not denote an action, activity, or state of being. However, the gerund form ‘funning’ is a verb as it indicates the action or activity of teasing or making fun of something or somebody.
| Examples | Explanations |
| 1. Varun’s funny behavior lightened up everyone’s mood. | In this sentence, the word “funny” is not a verb but is an adjective as it is not showing any action but is modifying the noun ‘behavior’ by telling about Varun’s amusing and hilarious behavior that evoked laughter. |
| 2. The boy was only funning with her, but she took it too seriously and got offended. | The word “funning” in this sentence is a verb as it refers to the boy’s action of trying to make fun of or tease the girl. |
Conclusion
Thus through this article, we got clarification on when, why, and how the word “funny” is an adjective and a noun and also why it cannot be an action word (verb).
