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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Articles + modifiers

a. He isn't too bad a person.

a. This is a much more horible experience.

Why can the article follow the modifiers only in a?

And both these incorrect?

He isn't a too bad a person.

He isn't a too bad person.

Thanks
  

Top answer

English 1b3 Why can the article follow the modifiers only in a? Because speakers of English have used the word order adjective + too + a/an for ages and it has become idiomatic English. Too isn't the only word that requires a/an in an exceptional position.

— Cool Breeze

  • English 1b3 Why can the article follow the modifiers only in a?
  • Because speakers of English have used the word order adjective + too + a/an for ages and it has become idiomatic English.
  • Too isn't the only word that requires a/an in an exceptional position.
  • Other examples: It was such an easy question.
  • (Not: It was a such easy question.
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6 Answers
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English 1b3Why can the article follow the modifiers only in a?
Because speakers of English have used the word order adjective + too + a/an for ages and it has become idiomatic English. Too isn't the only word that requires a/an in an exceptional position. Other examples:

It was such an easy question. (Not: It was
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Cool BreezeYes. The first sentence has two articles!

Hi, and thanks.

Just to clarify, you think both my last examples are ok, even the one with two articles??
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English 1b3a. He isn't too bad a person.
a. This is a much more horible experience.

Why can the article follow the modifiers only in a?

Are we talking about a. or a. ?

Personally, I have no problem with "This is much more horrible an experience than b."

Save me one of those.
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AvangiAre we talking about a. or a. ?

Sorry, a and b it should read.
Avangi
Personally, I have no problem with "This is much more horrible an experience than b."

Neither. Maybe the position of the article is not restricted as much as I thought.
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English 1b3Just to clarify, you think both my last examples are ok, even the one with two articles??
You: "And both these incorrect?"
I: "Yes." (= Yes, both are incorrect.)

My apologies for not having replied sooner. The reason is that I received no notification of your or Avangi's posts. EF is buggy in many ways!

CB
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Because speakers of English have used the word order adjective + too + a/an for ages and it has become idiomatic English

I think you meant to write too + adjective + a/an.
Cool BreezeMy apologies for not having replied sooner.
No apology needed
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