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It’s a common error among English learners, particularly when it comes to nationalities. We would say “I am French” or “I am a French person”, but never “I am a
by evincarofautumn 10y ago
It’s a common error among English learners, particularly when it comes to nationalities. We would say “I am French” or “I am a French person”, but never “I am a French”.
- dghf 10y agoMade even more confusing that you can do it with some nationalities but not others. So "a French" is out, but most nationalities ending "-an" are OK: an American, a German, an Afghan, a Norwegian, a Russian, an Italian. Also "-ese", though with something of an archaic air: a Chinese, a Maltese, a Portugese. Also a Swiss, an Argentine, an Israeli, because why not? And of course pretty much any adjective can be used as a plural noun with the definite article: the French, the Dutch, the beautiful and the damned, the quick and the dead, etc.
- elros 10y agoWhat's more, some nationalities have specific nouns for them, but not all. A Spanish person is a Spaniard, a Finnish person is a Finn, but a German person isn't a Germ. Then there are those that fell out of use. There are Englishmen, Irishmen, Frenchmen, but never Chinamen!