[General] Miscellaneous

[Will17]

Hello There!!

I've got several questions to ask, I hope you wont mind...!


-I came across the expression "too large a crowd"... I had never seen this structure before. Is it common? Is the phrase "a too large crowd" correct too?

-Bury the plant up to its lower leaves/lowest leaves. Which one is correct?

-This is my group (I'm their trainer). Next week I'll take the group of Olivia/ Olivia's. Which one is correct?

-He is a friend of mine. He is a friend of a friend/ friend's? Which one is correct?

-Is this definition correct? "a desk is a piece of furniture you use to work on".

- My boss wants to dismiss me. I have 3 months of prior notice. Is this correct?

Thanks a lot, your help is very valuable.

W.

 

[TheParser]

Hello There!!

I've got several questions to ask, I hope you wont mind...!


-I came across the expression "too large a crowd"... I had never seen this structure before. Is it common? Is the phrase "a too large crowd" correct too?

-Bury the plant up to its lower leaves/lowest leaves. Which one is correct?

-This is my group (I'm their trainer). Next week I'll take the group of Olivia/ Olivia's. Which one is correct?

-He is a friend of mine. He is a friend of a friend/ friend's? Which one is correct?

-Is this definition correct? "a desk is a piece of furniture you use to work on".

- My boss wants to dismiss me. I have 3 months of prior notice. Is this correct?

Thanks a lot, your help is very valuable.

W.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Will.

May I answer your first question?

(1) According to Dr. John B. Opdycke in Harper's English Grammar:

(a) A phrase such as "a too large crowd" IS grammatical but definitely NOT idiomatic (the way native speakers use the language).

(b) Dr. Opdycke says that the following sound awkward and ridiculous:

a so sweet story/ a too severe strain / a how excellent view.

(c) He says that sound is the deciding factor in such idioms.

(d) Therefore, I think that all native speakers would suggest that you say (and write) ONLY: too large a crowd/ so sweet a story/ too severe a strain/ how excellent a view/ many a boy. ...

Have a nice day!

 

[TheParser]

Hello There!!

I've got several questions to ask, I hope you wont mind...!


-I came across the expression "too large a crowd"... I had never seen this structure before. Is it common? Is the phrase "a too large crowd" correct too?

-Bury the plant up to its lower leaves/lowest leaves. Which one is correct?

-This is my group (I'm their trainer). Next week I'll take the group of Olivia/ Olivia's. Which one is correct?

-He is a friend of mine. He is a friend of a friend/ friend's? Which one is correct?

-Is this definition correct? "a desk is a piece of furniture you use to work on".

- My boss wants to dismiss me. I have 3 months of prior notice. Is this correct?

Thanks a lot, your help is very valuable.

W.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello again, Will.

(1) I am disappointed that no one else has answered you.

(2) I have a little secret: If you post one short question for each post, more people will answer you.

(3) If you don't get any answers, I suggest you post one post each day with only one question.

(4) I don't want to answer your other questions, because I am not 99% sure. I do NOT want to give you any wrong answers.

Best of luck.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello There!!

I've got several questions to ask, I hope you wont mind...!


-I came across the expression "too large a crowd"... I had never seen this structure before. Is it common? Is the phrase "a too large crowd" correct too?

"Too large a crowd" is correct, though not commonly used. "A too large crowd" is not correct.

-Bury the plant up to its lower leaves/lowest leaves. Which one is correct?

Any leaves which are lower than the top would constitute lower leaves, therefore it would still not be clear how deep you should bury the plant. "Bury it up to its lowest leaves/leaf" would be a clear instruction.

-This is my group (I'm their trainer). Next week I'll take the group of Olivia/ Olivia's. Which one is correct?

Neither is ideal. I suggest "Next week, I'll take Olivia's group".

-He is a friend of mine. He is a friend of a friend/ friend's? Which one is correct?

"He's a friend of a friend." You wouldn't use "friend's" because you have already said "of a", which shows possession. If you wish to use the apostrophe + s, then you would say "He's a friend's friend".

-Is this definition correct? "a desk is a piece of furniture you use to work on".

Yes.

- My boss wants to dismiss me. I have 3 months of prior notice. Is this correct?

I'm not sure what you mean here. Do you mean that you have already worked there for 3 months? Or do you mean that your boss is required to allow you to work for 3 more months after he dismisses you? I'm going to assume that my second understanding is correct, in which case you would say "My boss wants to dismiss me. He has to give me 3 months' notice."

Thanks a lot, your help is very valuable.

W.

Please see my responses in blue. As the previous poster said, you may wish to make your posts a little shorter as sometimes posting a list of unconnected questions, with different grammatical queries, puts people off replying.