核心问题
many a 与 many 有何区别?
词典解答
有的英语著作解释说: many 侧重将许多“综合化”; many a 侧重将许多“个别化”(即“一个一个地”)。这种说法看来是有道理的。例如:
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Many a ship has been wrecked on those rocks. (Eckersley) 许多船撞毁在那些岩石上。
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Many a man comes and goes. 许多人来来去去。
但是, many 与 many a 的主要区别是在语体上。前者既可以用于书面语体, 也可用于口语体, 而 many a 只用于正式语体。
关于 many a 所要求的谓语动词的数, 见 many a woman。