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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Many a people/person/persons

I heard

Many a person.

Shouldn't it be the plural form?

Many a people/persons? Many a frogs, countries, etc?

Thanks
  

Top answer

Hi, English, That particular form uses the singular. I have no idea what it's called. ") I've walked many a mile in these shoes.

— Avangi

  • Hi, English, That particular form uses the singular.
  • I have no idea what it's called.
  • ") I've walked many a mile in these shoes.
  • There's the show tune from Oklahoma, Many A New Day Will Come Before I Do .
  • That guy has broken many a poor girl's heart.
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6 Answers
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Hi, English,

That particular form uses the singular. I have no idea what it's called. (Maybe it's called "old fashioned.")

I've walked many a mile in these shoes.

There's the show tune from Oklahoma, Many A New Day Will Come Before I Do.

That guy has broken many a poor girl's heart.

Maybe it's an idiom.
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Hey Avangi

We also use the plural right? Any change in meaning I wonder...

Cheers
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English 1b3We also use the plural right?
Wrong. Unless I misunderstand. Do you have an example?

In that form, when we use the singular definite article, we use the singular noun.

I've eaten many an apple in my day. (not "many an apples")
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It seems to be singular nouns and collective nouns huh:

Many an apple, a dog, a people.
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English 1b3It seems to be singular nouns and collective nouns huh:
Many an apple, a dog, a people.
I suppose you could say that, but not many collectives come to mind as examples.

Many a chorus/quartet has sung that song.

The point is manque, since you don't really have the option of using the collective as a plural - which would be
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AvangiI dunno. Maybe I'm wrong. "Many a quartet have sung that song." Geez. Gimme a break. I can't deal with this ###.

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