What + a(n) + noun

[GavrocheDesBois]

Hi everyone,

I'm Quentin, a french student in mechanical engineering (22 years old).
I was wondering if a "what + a + noun" sentence has always a meaning. I've heard a lot sentences like : "What a jerk !!", "What an Idiot !!" in series or in spoken english. But is there any chance that "What a teacher !" or "What a cat !" or "What a (whatever the noun is)" has a meaning (orally)?

To place it into a context :
A friend teaches me a lesson :
- "...... and now you understand why. "
I reply :
-"What a teacher !"

Is that correct ?
Does it sound familiar or something ? Must I use those sentences carefully ?

Thank you for your futur answers !!
Quentin

 

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

Statements like that can be interpreted in different ways depending on context:

What a jerk. = He's quite a jerk. [If it contains an insult, the meaning is usually straightforward]
What a teacher. = He's an exceptionally (terrible/gifted/strange) teacher. [Meaning is impossible to determine without context]
What a gentleman. = He's a very (polite/rude) man. ["Rude", in the case of a sarcastic statement]

 

[emsr2d2]

If you think that your friend has been a great teacher by teaching you that lesson, then you can say/exclaim "What a teacher!" meaning "What a great teacher you are!"

 

[MikeNewYork]

I saw a video recently in which a family cat came full speed and hit a dog that was attacking a child. The dog released and ran away. For that "What a cat" would be perfect.

 

[GavrocheDesBois]

Thank you all for your answer !!

I did see this video in which a cat goes beserker and save a child from a dog. AWESOME !!

Do those expressions sound familiar ? Or can I use it in every situation (even next to the mother in law ^^)?

 

[tzfujimino]

I saw a video recently in which a family cat came full speed and hit a dog that was attacking a child. The dog released and ran away. For that "What a cat" would be perfect.

I saw it, too.
The cat was very brave, indeed.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The expressions are normal. I don't know about "every" situation, but in many situations it is fine.

 

[GavrocheDesBois]

So nice to get fast answer.
I will use that website more often for sure!!
Have a nice day, all of you

 

[GavrocheDesBois]

How do I put my post to the "solve" status ??

 

[emsr2d2]

We can close the thread if you want us to. Before we stop though, please concentrate on these specific rules of written English:

- Do not put a space before a comma, full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.
- A single punctuation mark is sufficient and grammatical. Don't use more than one.

 

[MikeNewYork]

There is no reason to "solve" it. Just click "like" or "thank" on the appropriate messages and then let it be.

 

[GavrocheDesBois]

Thank you for the tips emsr2d2.
I'll try to apply the rules you teach me : "What a teacher!" (does the ":" need a space ahead? Because it does in French... so hard not to mix punctation rules between the two languages).
Last question. Are you all english teachers?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for the tips emsr2d2.
I'll try to apply the rules you teach me : "What a teacher!" (does the ":" need a space [strike]ahead[/strike] before it. [strike]because[/strike] It does in French (no ellipsis here) - it's so hard not to mix up the punctation rules between the two languages).
Last question. Are you all English teachers?

Don't put a space before a colon but put one after it.
Don't put a space before a semi-colon but put one after it.
Put a space before an opening bracket but not after it.
Don't put a space before a closing bracket but put one after it.
Put a space before an opening quotation mark but not after it.
Don't put a space before a closing quotation mark but put one after it.

You got it right with "What a teacher!"

You can check someone's member profile by clicking on Member Info under any username.

 

[GavrocheDesBois]

Now I'm kind of frightened. This will be endless ^^.
Thank you so much for your help.
Do you have any advise to learn prepositional verb? I think they are so useful, and i'm bad using them.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Start a new thread, please.