Why do we say “it’s too hard a task” and not “it’s a too hard task”?
Is there a rule for that?
Answer
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_articles:
In most cases, the article is the first word of its noun phrase, preceding
all other adjectives and modifiers.The little old red bag held a very big surprise.
There are a few exceptions, however:
- Certain determiners, such as all, both, half, double, precede the
definite article when used in combination (all the team, both the
girls, half the time, double the amount).- The determiner such and
exclamative what precede the indefinite article (such an idiot, what
a day!).- Adjectives qualified by too, so, as and how generally
precede the indefinite article: too great a loss, so hard a problem,
as delicious an apple as I have ever tasted, I know how pretty a girl
she is.- When adjectives are qualified by quite (particularly when it
means “fairly”), the word quite (but not the adjective itself) often
precedes the indefinite article: quite a long letter.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Arnaud , Answer Author : BobRodes
