Title: Fun vs. Funny
Duration: 5-7 minutes
Level: pre-int +
Language Focus: Commonly Confused Words
Objective: Vocabulary, To identify differences between two words
What’s the Difference Between…
Fun and Funny?
These two commonly confused words have been frustrating English students for years.
Was the party fun or was it funny? Is my friend fun or is he funny?
Maybe he’s both fun AND funny!
Let’s look at some examples:
- The party last night was so fun!
There was great music, dancing and even a pool. - The party last night was so funny!
The guys put on dresses and did a ridiculous dance.
What’s the difference?
In the first sentence, the speaker had a very good time at the party and enjoyed the activities.
In the second sentence, the speaker also had a good time at the party and she laughed.
- My friend Jim is really fun.
We always do interesting things like go to concerts, parties and amusement parks.
However, he is very bad at telling jokes*. - My friend Rachel is really funny.
She has the best sense of humor and always makes me laugh.
However, she spends most of her time at home looking at stupid things on the Internet.
What’s the difference?
In the first sentence, Jim participates in a lot of activities that are enjoyable for the speaker, but he does not have a good sense of humor.
In the second sentence, Rachel is good at telling jokes*, but she doesn’t participate in many interesting activities.
So…
fun = enjoyable, a good time
funny = makes you laugh
Language Point:
To be good/bad + at + verb + -ing
To be good/bad + at + activity
Examples:
- I am very good at speaking English.
- I am bad at football.
Questions to Discuss
- What do you think is a more fun holiday: the beach or the mountains?
- Which movie do you think is funnier: Torrente or Fuga de Cerebros?
- When was the last time you had a lot of fun?
- Which of your friends is the funniest?
⚠️ Remember!!
Fun is an irregular adjective:
fun, more fun, the most fun
(NOT funner, NOT funnest)
