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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

this many vs. these many

What is correct "this many years" or "these many years"? I have seen both. If both are correct, could you please indicate the different uses? Thank you very much.
  

Top answer

If "this" is supposed to agree with "many years", then it's " these many years".

— Pieanne

  • If "this" is supposed to agree with "many years", then it's " these many years".
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4 Answers
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If "this" is supposed to agree with "many years", then it's "these many years".
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Thanks, but I'm sorry to say that does not help. My question has to do with usage. I hear native speakers say "that many" all the time. "That" is singular while "many" is plural. Clearly the "that" has a function here which is not agreeing with "many." So what's that function?
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'That many' - we use 'that' in negative situations as a sort of mildly negative intensifier, quite often to be mildly critical of something.

Child 1: Can I have one of your sweets?

Child 2: 'But I haven't got that many left'. (I have some, but not many, and I don't want to give you one.)

Child 1: ~snatches handful.

Child 2: 'Mum! He took all my sweets!'
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Great! So do you use "this many" in a similar way? Do you say "It's been twenty years since I became a citizen. I haven't left the country in THIS MANY years"? Or do you say "in THESE MANY years"? Thanks!
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