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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread using 'a(n)' with plural nouns? #159435 05/05/06 11:54 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd OP Carpal Tunnel OP zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh Another sign that English is going to heck in a teapot. 1. A few items were left off the list. a. Using a with a plural noun. b. A plural noun that does not take -s: i.e., few. c. A noun used as an adjective. d. Also works with good many and great many. e. In times past, used to use the partitive genitive with of. f. I am sure grammar mavens are losing sleep over this, right now, somewhere. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: using 'a(n)' with plural nouns? #159436 05/06/06 02:10 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Can you give us an example of e? I can't think of anything off hand. Maybe because partitive genitive leaves me bemused. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: using 'a(n)' with plural nouns? #159437 05/06/06 02:39 AM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd OP Carpal Tunnel OP zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh A few of the items went missing. The genitive is usually said to be a possessive case, but it has other uses. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: using 'a(n)' with plural nouns? #159438 05/06/06 02:40 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky You know, I don't think I ever knew that this was against the (grammar) law. But now that you mention it, I do recall sometimes reading some few; what would precede good many and great many, please? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: using 'a(n)' with plural nouns? #159439 05/06/06 03:01 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd OP Carpal Tunnel OP zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh I was being sarcastic, Jackie. There's absolutely nothing wrong with saying or writing: "a great many grammar mavens are wrong" or "a few students disappeared during Spring Break". But, it's fun to get all prescriptive ad absurdum. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: using 'a(n)' with plural nouns? #159440 05/06/06 09:58 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Ah-HA---boy, nobody can say I can't catch on to things...once I've been hit upside the head a few times with a 2 X 4, anyway. I'm not an ignor, am i? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,913 Posts229,318 Members9,182 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV 9,182 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 members (), 437 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 28 A C Bowden 12 ddrinnan 1 LukeJavan8 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 tsuwm 10,542 wofahulicodoc 10,535 LukeJavan8 9,916 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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