something unusually happened or something unusual happened

raelyn · Post by **raelyn** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:47 am

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.

GD · Post by GD » Mon Nov 01, 2004 4:09 am

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.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:25 am

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.

GD · Post by GD » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:36 am

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:

The only elaboration one can make on “something happened” is to provide more information for “something”

An adjective may well be used to modify the verb as in: "Something happened quickly"

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:53 am

Mmm, I was wrong too. Unusally is of course possible in some other situations, so I edited my post and then found you had already replied.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:53 am

A: Unusually for him (Jean-Yves Thibaudet), he didn't wear his customary awful fluorescent socks for last night's concert.
B: Yeah, his suitcase (and socks) got stolen from his hotel room.
A: Ah, I see...

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:55 am

I got in this time before clever cloggs hamster man though, I'm happy to see.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 6:02 am

Unusual for you, WC!

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:35 am

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

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:28 pm

Unusually, sonmething happened
would be perfectly correct in any description of life in Saudi.

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:31 pm

Something happened unusually is also correct, when talking about a Thai massage parlour.

Harzer

raelyn · Post by **raelyn** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:30 am

Thanks for all your response. Now I am clearer about the two expressions. Thanks again.

malgeum · Post by **malgeum** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 3:46 am

Hi all,

Here, unusual is a post-position adjective modifying something not happened.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:02 am

Welcome Malgeum! A fine debut appearance as a last minute substitute for Woodcutter in this thread, reiterating the point that the departing striker has already made.

Yes Brian! A real touch of class there, with that "post-position".

malgeum · Post by **malgeum** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 12:33 pm

Thanks! I teach a writing class in China and I thought I was the only one that loved grammar, so I'm very glad to find this place.

I don't get the post-position comment, but I can imagine.

Personally, I'd have to say I prefer pre-positions ... er, never mind.