Is there a good explanation for the forms 大きな, 小さな and 多くの?


Is there a good historical/etymological explanation why 大きい and 小さい can take
the な ending in attributive position?

Also, is there a good historic/etymological explanation why 多い in attributive
use turns into 多くの-?




大きな is the 連体形 (attributive form) of an old na-adjective おおきなり, and only the
attributive form is used in the present day. 小さな, おかしな are also the same
thing. They are analyzed as pre-noun adjectivals.

The attribute form of 多い is 多い, but it alone isn't commonly used such as 多い車.
However 多い with a modifier can be used as the attribute form such as 外国人の多い学校.
多く is a noun, so when it modifies a noun, の is needed after a noun such as
お菓子の家.




大きな is the 連体形 (attributive form) of an old na-adjective おおきなり, and only the
attributive form is used in the present day. 小さな, おかしな are also the same
thing. They are analyzed as pre-noun adjectivals.

The attribute form of 多い is 多い, but it alone isn't commonly used such as 多い車.
However 多い with a modifier can be used as the attribute form such as 外国人の多い学校.
多く is a noun, so when it modifies a noun, の is needed after a noun such as
お菓子の家.

