Spearheading an elegant searchable database

[Superguay]

Hi all.

Under which circumstances is it possible to place the first in a series of adjectives in front of the indefinite article?

Is it a mere stylistic device?

 

[teechar]

I don't understand your question. And how does the title relate to it? Did you write that as an example? Please explain what you mean, and give us a sentence or two to illustrate the question you have in mind.

 

[GoesStation]

"Spearheading" is not an adjective.

 

[Superguay]

Yes. I should have been clearer. I thought the connection was straightforward.

You are right in stating it is not an adjective, but it is being used here as such (in my probably wrong opinion)

 

[GoesStation]

You are right in stating it is not an adjective, but it is being used here as such (in my probably wrong opinion)

I see. No, spearheading is a verb in the headline you quoted. The headline means something like Leading the development of an elegant searchable database.

 

[Rollercoaster1]

"Spearheading" is not an adjective.

It's either a verb or gerund in the example.

 

[GoesStation]

It's either a verb or gerund in the example.

Grammar isn't my strong suit but I'm pretty sure it's not a gerund. It doesn't function as a noun.

 

[teechar]

but it is being used here as such

How so? Can you tell us what you mean please? Explain clearly how you intend to use what you wrote.

 

[Phaedrus]

Under which circumstances is it possible to place the first in a series of adjectives in front of the indefinite article?

That sometimes happens in degree constructions with "so" or "too" -- for example:

It was too confusing a grammatical question to be answered. [It needed to be reformulated.]

There, instead of "a confusing grammatical question" (note the two-adjective series, "confusing grammatical"), we have "confusing a grammatical question."

 

[Superguay]

You were all right. I have failed to notice the leading "is". It must be the silliest question you have ever read, sorry.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

. . . You are right in stating it is not an adjective, but it is being used here as such . . . .

No, it isn't. It's a verb being used as a verb.

To answer your question, it's never right to put an article between an adjective and the noun it's modifying. Notice that you correctly put a before the two adjectives.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

PS - We can help you more if you give us a complete sentence rather than just a sentence fragment.