something unusually happened or something unusual happened
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
something unusually happened or something unusual happened
I've met a problem during my class last week. I felt difficult to explain it.
The exercise is : Fill in the blanks with its proper forms
Something _________ (usual) happened when he was sleeping last night.
Most students have two answers: unusually and unusual.
Anyone could tell me that if both of the two answers are right.
The exercise is : Fill in the blanks with its proper forms
Something _________ (usual) happened when he was sleeping last night.
Most students have two answers: unusually and unusual.
Anyone could tell me that if both of the two answers are right.
I don't think there's any reason why one might say "something unusually happened" since a more proper structure would be "something happened unusually" and would be equivalent to "something happened in an unusual way" which makes no sense whatsoever.
The only elaboration one can make on “something happened” is to provide more information for “something” which as a noun (well I'm not sure whether it really is one, after all I couldn't be at 6:30 in the morning but it functions as such in this case anyway) has to be “modified” by an adjective. An adverb in this sentence could only be used to modify the verb or an adjective, if one existed.
In my opinion the correct answer is definitely something unusual happened.
The only elaboration one can make on “something happened” is to provide more information for “something” which as a noun (well I'm not sure whether it really is one, after all I couldn't be at 6:30 in the morning but it functions as such in this case anyway) has to be “modified” by an adjective. An adverb in this sentence could only be used to modify the verb or an adjective, if one existed.
In my opinion the correct answer is definitely something unusual happened.
-
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London
Well GD, you got the answer right at least. However, "unusually" is not a word I am familiar with in that context - whereas "something happened in an unusual way" would make perfect sense in a record of a scientific experiment, for example.
In the original example "unusual" is describing "something" as part of a noun phrase, so we need an adjective, not an adverb.
In the original example "unusual" is describing "something" as part of a noun phrase, so we need an adjective, not an adverb.
Last edited by woodcutter on Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
You are right about the "something happened in an unusual way" making sense under certain circumstances but I meant that it would sound odd in this context which I could have stated more clearly though. I guess my not so good command of the language is to blame.
However I do think that there are one or two cases where unusually can be used, especially to modify a predicate adjective as in: "These bandages are unusually dry"
(I think I heard that in an ab fab episode but I'm not sure) After all it's 07:30 now so I might as well be telling nonsense).
Plus, I was wrong in another point as well:
However I do think that there are one or two cases where unusually can be used, especially to modify a predicate adjective as in: "These bandages are unusually dry"
(I think I heard that in an ab fab episode but I'm not sure) After all it's 07:30 now so I might as well be telling nonsense).
Plus, I was wrong in another point as well:
An adjective may well be used to modify the verb as in: "Something happened quickly"The only elaboration one can make on “something happened” is to provide more information for “something”
-
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London
-
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
-
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London
-
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
Something unusual happened
is shorthand for: something (which was unusual) happened
Something unusually happened
is shorthand for: something happened (, which was unusual). Note that the comma must be included to indicate that the unusualness refers to the whole clause and not to a word within it.
Whether "something unusually happened" is correct/acceptable English is another matter.
Harzer
is shorthand for: something (which was unusual) happened
Something unusually happened
is shorthand for: something happened (, which was unusual). Note that the comma must be included to indicate that the unusualness refers to the whole clause and not to a word within it.
Whether "something unusually happened" is correct/acceptable English is another matter.
Harzer
-
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2003 5:25 pm
-
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London