Guile  +  751815 Thu, 28 May 09 02:17 AM 1.) In some text, they insert "a" before a noun that somewhat sounds wrong but I guess its correct because I have seen quite many of them in books. I don't know, I am not good at grammar and English is not our native tongue. For example, "Too short a time." "Many a great ..." If this is correct, when do you use this? 2.) What do you mean by the word "mind you". Can you give some example. Thanks. Guile Joined on Thu, Sep 8 2005 Philippines New Member 04 Nouns, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Languages

	Mister Micawber  +  751869 Thu, 28 May 09 02:54 AM . Welcome to English Forums, Guile. 1.) For example, "Too short a time." "Many a great ..." If this is correct, when do you use this?-- 'Many a' ('many' as a predeterminer) can be used sometimes for literary or rhetorical purposes; it is not a common current formation.  The other is a commoner formation: ' too long a day', 'so busy a schedule', 'too big a mess', etc. 2.) What do you mean by the word "mind you". Can you give some example.-- 'Please note'. 001.  dn't sound impressed. He was silent for a while. "MIND YOU," he said, sounding sly. "I suppose you c 002.  . "Shame Ferg isn't superstitious." He chuckled. "MIND YOU, Hamish is. Maybe we should tell him that 003.  ep in a box. Not that I'd like to sleep in a box, MIND YOU, not without any air -- you'd wake up dea 004.   remember. GUIL: How long is that? ROS: I forget. MIND YOU -- eighty-five times! GUIL: Yes? ROS: It' 005.  es could weep!… Rather strong on metaphor, MIND YOU. No criticism -- only a matter of taste.  006.  e that you wouldn't normally associate with them. MIND YOU, I don't suppose you would really want to 007.  and are more uniform in shape than old varieties. MIND YOU, with a hundred years of refinement and i Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,780 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Metaphors, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Languages

	Guile  +  751960 Thu, 28 May 09 04:38 AM Thanks. Im sorry, but i didn't quite get the "mind you" part. Are all of it examples, or some of the words after "mind you" are its meaning? What does it really mean? My dictionary says, "use to qualify something that you have said." Well it didn't help. What does he mean by "qualify?" Im really sorry, I don't understand. Guile Apologies

	Jeannie1  +  752105 Thu, 28 May 09 06:21 AM "Too short a time" would not generally be used in everyday conversation, but it appears a lot in literature.  When used appropriately, it is quite acceptable.   Mostly we would say "not enough time" nowadays.   "mind you" is one of those phrases that don't mean a lot, just like "you know", they can just as easily be left out.  Quite often these phrases are a fad for a short time and fade away.  Well, I wish "you know" would fade away.  People do not say "mind you" much anymore.            Jeannie1 Joined on Mon, Jan 26 2009 Full Member 159 Literature, Speaking, Chat, Friendships, Conversational

	AlpheccaStars  +  752115 Thu, 28 May 09 06:27 AM Mind you, anywhere you see the blue text "MIND YOU" you will find a link to the whole passage. Just click! AlpheccaStars Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008 Senior Member 3,508 The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) Colours

	cwtch  +  752136 Thu, 28 May 09 06:37 AM Guile “What do you mean by the word "mind you".”       Mind you is still reasonably common in the American South.  He was a weird guy, mind you.  It is for emphasis; take this to mind.  I'm about to tell you something you don't expect. cwtch Joined on Mon, May 18 2009 Full Member 279 I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Live free or die. Countries, United States, American

	Cool Breeze  +  752207 Thu, 28 May 09 07:54 AM Guile “ "Many a great ..." If this is correct, when do you use this? ” Many a is possible with a singular countable noun: "It's been the ruin of many a poor boy and God I know I'm one." - The House of the Rising Sun (trad.) Another much more common structure is: It's been the ruin of many poor boys... Many + a singular noun is mostly used in literary style even though it appears in this song. CB Cool Breeze Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006 Senior Member 3,970 "I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991 Nouns, Countable Nouns, Singular Nouns, Songs, Styles, Singular, Music