So Silly A Fancy

Question

How could the man have come by so silly a   fancy?Shouldn't it be a so silly fancy?

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

No, it's right.

"so silly a fancy" = "such a silly fancy".

A "fancy" is a notion -- usually one that's not based very solidly in reality.

Tanit · Answer

Hii,

I have a question related to this that nagged me for some time in the past and that I forgot ... until I saw this thread.

I know that there's a special word order when we have as - how - so - too, the indefinite article, a noun and an adjective. I also remember these structures are quite formal.

He wouldn't do that. He's too good a boy.
I've never seen as happy a man as him.

How talented a writer is he?

That was so enjoyable a book that I could't put it down.

(Hope these were correct. I've just made them up. Please correct them if there's something wrong.)

My question is: are there any other words for which this particular word order (X + adjective + a/an + noun) applies?
More specifically, can I use it with quite, really and rather?

He's quite/really/rather talented a writer. (?)

I failed to find any reference to support this construction. Yet, it doesn't sound like chalk on a blackboard to my ears. Should it?

Many thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

TanitMy question is: are there any other words for which this particular word order (X + adjective + a/an + noun) applies?
More specifically, can I use it with quite, really and rather?
He's quite/really/rather talented a writer. (?)

quite just barely works for me. But I wouldn't use it. Others may find it completely incorrect.

?He's quite talented a writer.

The others don't work for me at all. In every case my preference is a different word order, thus:

He's quite a talented writer.

He's really a talented writer.
He's rather talented as a writer. ( ! )
Also: He's [quite / really] talented as a writer.

Also: He's a [quite / really / rather] talented writer.

CJ

Mr Wordy · Answer

Tanitare there any other words for which this particular word order (X + adjective + a/an + noun) applies?

Another word that fits this structure is "this" (or "that"):

"This talented a writer should not be struggling to earn a living."

Tanit · Answer

Thank you very much, CJ and Mr Wordy! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

So Silly A Fancy

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