Talk:strange

From RFV

As an adverb - isn't this just an error for "strangely"? Shouldn't it be "acting strangely" in the example? Or is this one of those adjectives that can also be an adverb, like "fast"? Or should the example use one of the verbs such as "look" or "seem" that use adjectives as adverbs (eg, "to look nice" rather than "to look nicely")? — Paul G 08:59, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Just delete it. If it's verifiable then it would be a grammatical blunder. The definition, marked non-standard, does not dispute that. So put a note under Appendix:English Grammar or wherever we decide to spell out these things, and leave this one out. DAVilla 12:01, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Google books hits for "acting strangely": 686

...for "acting strange": 659

...for "behaving strangely": 633

...for "behaving strange": 8 (legit)

...for "actingly weirdly": 15 maybe

...for "acting weird": 631

There also appears to be a large number of legit hits for "talking strange", enough that it doesn't appear to be a simple blunder. Kappa 13:51, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

So... keep it and mark it as an error / nonstandard? — Beobach972 16:54, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, act takes an adjective complement in some of its senses. This should probably go in a usage note at act, but doesn't warrant mention at every conceivable adjective used with it. —Ruakh_TALK 17:34, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

I think though, that this is almost exclusive to terms meaning strange. Compare 554 hits for "acting weird" and 251 hits for "acting odd". It's nonstandard, but it's certainly in widespread use. I'd say it was a colloquialism, rather than simply a "blunder". RobbieG 22:00, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

It doesn't matter if it's a colloquialism or an illiteracy. Call it whatever you want to. The point is that adjectives are used this way very broadly, just as the gerund is used as a noun, just as the the past participle of a transitive verb is used as an adjective. We don't list these as separate senses, regardless of how common they are. DAVilla 23:05, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

I would tend to agree. As any adjective can be misused as an adverb (eg, "don't talk ridiculous"), but we won't make a point of listing these here. However, if "strange" can be the complement of some verbs, do we give an entry for it? The verbs for the senses have adjectival complements ("look strange", "sound strange", "smell strange", "feel strange" and "taste strange") but again, just about any adjective can be used in this way, and these are still adjectives, not adverbs. So should it go? — Paul G 09:39, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

Isn't there a difference in meaning? 'Acting strangely' means 'behaving in a strange manner' whereas 'acting strange' means 'acting as if one were strange'/'acting that one is strange'. Thus, when you're walking down the street some strangely acting guy is approaching while your mate next to you is acting strange, apparently pretending to be a retard. Gaston 00:05, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

I see your point. I think, however, that "strange" is still an adjective here, as it is in "look strange", "feel strange", etc. Looks like we should delete the adverb entry. — Paul G 09:39, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, of course it is. That's what I am saying. Delete the adverb sense. Gaston 08:55, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

Striking this out as resolved. Someone else has already deleted the adverbial sense. — Paul G 17:26, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

strange to say/relate

strange as it may seem --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:45, 21 August 2020 (UTC)