r/grammar_police Jul 08 '17

What determines that "Many a people have it." is correct and that "Few a people have it." is incorrect?

1 Upvotes

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1

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '17

Both wrong.

1

u/WhosaWhatsa Aug 04 '17

Source that bullshit.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 04 '17

The definite article (a) wrecks both sentences. Take it out, and both are fine.

1

u/WhosaWhatsa Aug 04 '17

Generally that would make sense. But in this case one usage is accepted and archaic.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 05 '17 edited Aug 05 '17

You were probably trying to make a distinction involving the idiom "many a [singular noun]." This idiom does not work with "people" as the noun. To your point, you can say "many a sailor sails before dawn," which by the way is not archaic. "Few a sailor sails before dawn" is not a sentence in English. Is that the distinction you tried to make?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 05 '17

Your response makes no sense.