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GCheng620 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Fairly a long while/A fairly long while?

Which version is correct?
And why?

THANKS IN ADVANCE(
  

Top answer

a fairly long while The determiner ( a ) comes first. The adverb ( fairly ) modifies the adjective ( long ), so the two are placed together. CJ

— CalifJim

  • a fairly long while The determiner ( a ) comes first.
  • The adverb ( fairly ) modifies the adjective ( long ), so the two are placed together.
  • CJ
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5 Answers
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a fairly long while

The determiner (a) comes first.
The adverb (fairly) modifies the adjective (long), so the two are placed together.

CJ
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CalifJima fairly long whileThe determiner (a) comes first.The adverb (fairly) modifies the adjective (long), so the two are placed together.CJ
But I'm sure that I've heard sentences such as "I've waited for quite a long while now"
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GCheng620quite a long while
You've heard that, have you? Then I suppose we'll have to say that you've found an exception.
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CalifJim GCheng620quite a long whileYou've heard that, have you? Then I suppose we'll have to say that you've found an exception.
I don't understand at all,
why did you say it was exception but then say that the order is "fixed"? Doesn't that mean it's the "usual" way of saying it?:)
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GCheng620exception
"quite" goes before "a" whereas other adverbs go after "a" in such a combination.

quite a long time / a rather long time / a fairly long time
quite a nice man / a rather nice man / a very nice man
quite an interesting story / a very interesting story / a somewhat interesting story

CJ
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