Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marrion]

[1] A good many students are here with us.
[2] A good many of the students are here with us.
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From above, which is correct? or are all correct? and why?

[lotus]

Hi Marrion,


I would pick 1.

For 2, I would say:

A good number of students are here with us.

In the first sentence, good modifies many, and many modifies students; all in sequence.

In the second sentence, good modifies many, and of the students modifies many again on the other side. It just sounds and looks like "many" is being ganged up on. It's just bad form.


--lotus

[Marrion]

... Did you tell me that "a good many of" must not be used ?

But I found "this sentence [1]" in a web site in English.

[1] A good many of the examples in this FAQ are for a generic user, Alice.


So Isn't "this sentence [1]" correct?

If this sentence [1] is correct, I want to know how to use "a good many of".

[lotus]

No Marrion,

I said it was bad form in the previous example.

In your previous example, "students" is (most likely) treated as a group and "a good many of the students" is bad form.

Here, it does make sense because each example in the FAQ is unique.

QUOTE:
[1] A good many of the examples in this FAQ are for a generic user, Alice.



--lotus

[Marrion]

Thank you, sir.


Have a nice day!!