"Happy Thanksgiving"

We know their backgrounds, their beginnings, and how they have changed over time.

Happy is, and always has been, a positive word.

The online etymology dictionary says the word dates to the thirteen hundreds, at the time it meant lucky, favored by fortune, prosperous, as well as very glad.

Soon after, it came to mean greatly pleased and content.

The dictionary also tells us that the majority of the words for happy in European languages first meant lucky.

From the word happy, we also have a noun form, happiness.

When we compare the adjective happy with the noun happiness, we find that English speakers use happy much more often.

That information comes from Google's Ngram Viewer, an online database that examines thousands of books.

We have learned a little about the history of the adjective happy, so how do English speakers use it in modern times?

Perhaps the most common usage is after linking verbs.

These are verbs that link their subjects with their predicates.

Adjectives are commonly used after linking verbs to describe the subject.

Google's ngram viewer says some of the most common structures involve the verb be.

For example, you are very likely to hear or read, "I am happy," or "He was happy."

We also use happy with other kinds of linking verbs, feel, seem, and others.

Happy is also used with intensifiers, words that make an adjective stronger.

Two of the most common, Google's Ngram Viewer tells us, are so and very.

These intensifiers are then used along with linking verbs.

Consider these examples: You look so happy.

We are very happy.

They seem so happy.

In all of these examples, the structure is linking verb plus intensifier plus happy.

A few final words on the modern usage of happy.

You are also likely to hear the adjective happy used to express kind wishes around some holidays, Thanksgiving for one.

In America, you will often hear statements such as this: "Happy Thanksgiving."

These statements are a kind of sentence fragment, or an incomplete sentence.

There is no subject.

The subject and main verb are understood between the speakers.

A complete sentence would be "I wish you a happy Thanksgiving," or "I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving."

We shorten these sentences because the first part is understood.

That is how we arrive at happy Thanksgiving.

In today's report, we explored one word, happy.

You learned about its history and common usages with linking verbs and intensifiers, as well as holiday wishes.

You may or may not celebrate Thanksgiving where you live, but we can end this lesson by wishing you a very happy day.

I'm John Russell.