Sense and Sensibility
question
in respectable manner or in respectable a manner
Safaâ
May 21, 2013 03:47PM
Hey there,
what's the gramatical rule for saying '' in respectable a manner''? is it possible to shift the article 'A' between the adjective '' respectable'' and next to the noun '' manner'' ? it is really disturbing for me! anyone wud help here !? i cudnt find anything abt it on the net ... is it a way to say things in old English or sth ??!
what's the gramatical rule for saying '' in respectable a manner''? is it possible to shift the article 'A' between the adjective '' respectable'' and next to the noun '' manner'' ? it is really disturbing for me! anyone wud help here !? i cudnt find anything abt it on the net ... is it a way to say things in old English or sth ??!
I think you are talking about the second sentence of the book: "Their estate was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of their property, where for many generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance."
The key word here is so; with certain adverbs, you can put the article between the adjective and the noun (the Oxford English dictionary lists as, enough, how, however, so, sufficiently, that, this, and too, as well as comparative adjectives with far, much, or no).
The construction is still common; the OED lists a recent quote from the Washington Post: "Any time you have this big a mess in professional sports."
In this case, though I agree it that it sounds old-fashioned. We might be more likely to say "such a respectable manner" nowadays.
The key word here is so; with certain adverbs, you can put the article between the adjective and the noun (the Oxford English dictionary lists as, enough, how, however, so, sufficiently, that, this, and too, as well as comparative adjectives with far, much, or no).
The construction is still common; the OED lists a recent quote from the Washington Post: "Any time you have this big a mess in professional sports."
In this case, though I agree it that it sounds old-fashioned. We might be more likely to say "such a respectable manner" nowadays.
It's old English and proper. You are defining what kind of respectability by the standards of the late 18th century gentry.
To be clear(if English is a second language), Americans do not say it this way.
To be clear(if English is a second language), Americans do not say it this way.
Safaâ Khoungui
Yeah, I have never heard it before and it sounds awkward to me ! Thanks guys for making things clearer :)
· flag
· flag
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
May 24, 2013 05:03PM · flag