Is Many Man Would or Many a Man Would Correct in English Grammar?

[DanP]

What is the difference (if any) between "many man would ... " and "many a man would ..." .
Which form is correct, and why ?

Thanks

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

What is the difference (if any) between "many man would ... " and "many a man would ..." .
Which form is correct, and why ?

Thanks

The first form is incorrect. Perhaps you meant "many men would ..." In that case either is acceptable and they mean the same thing. The second one is old-fashioned.

 

[DanP]

The first form is incorrect. Perhaps you meant "many men would ..." In that case either is acceptable and they mean the same thing. The second one is old-fashioned.

I see. Thank you man

 

[rewebster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZJQlddwuvY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZJQlddwuvY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>​

 

[zoobyshoe]

and why ?

This is hard to answer.

The first ("many man") is incorrect because of the meaning of the adjective many:

Main Entry: 1many
Pronunciation: \ˈme-nē\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): more \ˈmȯr\; most \ˈmōst\
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English manig; akin to Old High German manag many, Old Church Slavic mŭnogŭ much
Date: before 12th century

1 : consisting of or amounting to a large but indefinite number <worked for many years>
2 : being one of a large but indefinite number <many a man> <many another student>

— as many : the same in number <saw three plays in as many days>

Because a "large" number is automatically more than one the plural of "man" is required: "men".

How they get around this in the old fashioned construction ("many a man") is beyond me. It seems to be correct simply by virtue of the fact everyone says it that way.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Here is what the oed has to say about 'many a', under the headword 'many'.

d. many a(n) one: = 'many a person'. Now chiefly colloq. Also placed after a plural n.
1509 Barclay Ship of Fools (1874) II. 297 Thy apparayle Aleyed gayly with perles many a one.

 

[tiny-tim]

from Oklahoma! by Oscar Hammerstein II:

Many a new face will please my eye
Many a new love will find me
Never have I once looked back to sigh
Over the romance behind me
Many a new day will dawn before I do!

Many a like lad may kiss and fly
A kiss gone by is bygone.
Never have I asked an August sky
"Where has last July gone?"
Never have I wandered through the rye
Wondering "where has some guy gone?"
Many a new day will dawn before I do.

Never have I chased the honeybee
Who carelessly cajoled me
Somebody jist as sweet as he
Cheered me and consoled me.
Never have I wept into my tea
Over the deal someone doled me

Many a new day will dawn

Many a red sun will set

Many a blue moon will shine
Before I do!

 

[Evo]

from Oklahoma! Many a new day will dawn before I do.

Thanks t-t! I've been going crazy humming that since the thread started and couldn't put my finger on it!