Adj. + article + noun

Question

Hi, I've come across a certain pattern in English that goes like this: adjective + article + noun

Examples:
he's too nice a guy.
it's too great a burden.

I've noticed that this somewhat reversed order of the adj and the noun exists in cases when there is a word 'too' involved. Is it possible to also use it with 'quite', 'rather', 'not so' etc. before the 'adj+article+noun construction?

Examples of my query:
he's rather nice a guy
it's not so great a burden
she's quite modern a woman

Apologies if this sounds ridiculous and many thank in advance

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

All sentences should begin with capital letters. If you are not careful in using English when you post here, it is difficultt for us to determine your real problem.

He's rather nice a guy— No.
It's not so great a burden— Yes.
She's quite modern a woman— No.

echolottApologies if this sounds ridiculous

No, it is a reasonable question. Some of your examples are covert comparative forms:

He's too nice a guy [to have done that]— 'too + adj + infinitive
It's too great a burden.[to bear alone]— 'too + adj + infinitive
It's not so great a burden [as he has borne]— 'so/as' + adj + s'

Your others (if corrected) are classified as idiomatic downtoning phrases

He's rather a nice guy.
She quite a modern woman.

There are also a few predeterminers:

All the boys are here.
Both my friends are coming.

Echolott · Answer

Whoever invented this forum, what a great idea!

Thank you so much for being helpful. Feel free to enquire about Russian, if it occurs to you that you need some help with it.

Adj. + article + noun

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