Where has an A come from?

Printable View

May 23rd, 2006, 12:35 PM
Leof

Where has an A come from?

'I must confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print'
Jane Austen

I met such a's in some other phrases which have been told by modern people. Is it just formal or a kind of old-fashioned book style?

Thank you! :D
May 23rd, 2006, 01:23 PM
translationsnmru

Re: Where has an A come from?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

'I must confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print'
Jane Austen

I met such a's in some other phrases which have been told by modern people. Is it just formal or a kind of old-fashioned book style?

Thank you! :D

It is a norm. "She is just as good a friend to me as he is." etc.
May 23rd, 2006, 01:58 PM
Leof

Thank you! :)
May 24th, 2006, 09:52 AM
capecoddah

Leof, Grammatical nightmare. "A"= so many things.
Basicaly means "1"

Jane Austen is a bit extreme, just like me watching "Catherine the Great" on PBS. I chat wth some net-pals and never get the full idea.

I wish you the best (translation please?)
May 24th, 2006, 09:57 AM
Leof

er...capecoddah what did you mean under all this?
:oops: I don't understand you clearly.
May 24th, 2006, 04:16 PM
Бармалей

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

er...capecoddah what did you mean under all this?
:oops: I don't understand you clearly.

It's ok. We don't understand him either. :lol:
Actually I think he's telling you:
a) "a" is sometimes a synonym of the word "one" (e.g. "A man goes to the store." means ONE, SINGLE MAN goes to the store). Really though, I don't think that's at all relevent to the question you asked. :D

b) Reading Jane Austen is incredibly tedious and difficult. It's not the kind of normal English you would encounter today at all.

c) He wants you translate the phrase "All the best!" (which he just wished you). Something like "Удачи!"

There! Now did I accurately translate you from English to English, Coddah? :D
May 24th, 2006, 04:18 PM
Leof

Oh, then...now I got it right! Thanks Brml!
:D
May 24th, 2006, 05:06 PM
DDL

If you really want to learn more words and usages, read Nero Wolfe. Even I, a native speaker, learned some English words from it.

Coincidentally, the author of the Nero Wolfe series enjoyed reading Jane Austen, so there are one or two references to her in the books.
May 24th, 2006, 06:03 PM
Vadim84

I wish you the best

Всего наилучшего!
Удачи!
С наилучшими пожеланиями!
May 24th, 2006, 06:15 PM
Leof

Actually I didn't read Jane Austen in original yet.
I read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014025 ... e&n=283155
May 24th, 2006, 06:24 PM
TATY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

er...capecoddah what did you mean under all this?
:oops: I don't understand you clearly.

It's ok. We don't understand him either. :lol:
Actually I think he's telling you:
a) "a" is sometimes a synonym of the word "one" (e.g. "A man goes to the store." means ONE, SINGLE MAN goes to the store). Really though, I don't think that's at all relevent to the question you asked. :D

b) Reading Jane Austen is incredibly tedious and difficult. It's not the kind of normal English you would encounter today at all.

c) He wants you translate the phrase "All the best!" (which he just wished you). Something like "Удачи!"

There! Now did I accurately translate you from English to English, Coddah? :D

Well just look at French

A = Un/ Une
1 = Un

Spanish:

A = Un / Una
1 = Uno
May 24th, 2006, 07:38 PM
Бармалей

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leof

Actually I didn't read Jane Austen in original yet.
I read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014025 ... e&n=283155

Hehe. Cheater! :)
May 25th, 2006, 04:48 AM
Leof

:P
I am not though - I enjoy her books which were translated in Russian :lol: