[Sidenote: These sort, all manner of, _etc._]
427. The statement that adjectives agree with their nouns in number is restricted to the words this and that (with these and those), as these are the only adjectives that have separate forms for singular and plural; and it is only in one set of expressions that the concord seems to be violated,--in such as "_these sort_ of books," "_those kind_ of trees," "_all manner_ of men;" the nouns being singular, the adjectives plural. These expressions are all but universal in spoken English, and may be found not infrequently in literary English; for example,--
_These kind_ of knaves I know, which in this plainness Harbor more craft, etc.--SHAKESPEARE
I hoped we had done with _those sort_ of things.--MULOCH.
You have been so used to _those sort_ of impertinences.--SYDNEY SMITH.
Whitefield or Wesley, or some other such great man as a bishop, or _those sort_ of people.--FIELDING.
I always delight in overthrowing _those kind_ of schemes.--AUSTEN.
There are women as well as men who can thoroughly enjoy _those sort_ of romantic spots.--_Saturday Review_, London.
The library was open, with _all manner_ of amusing books.--RUSKIN.
According to the approved usage of Modern English, each one of the above adjectives would have to be changed to the singular, or the nouns to the plural.
[Sidenote: _History of this construction._]
The reason for the prevalence of these expressions must be sought in the history of the language: it cannot be found in the statement that the adjective is made plural by the attraction of a noun following.
In Old and Middle English, in keeping with the custom of looking at things concretely rather than in the abstract, they said, not "all _kinds_ of wild animals," but "alles cunnes wilde deor" (wild animals of-every-kind). This the modern expression reverses.
But in early Middle English the modern way of regarding such expressions also appeared, gradually displacing the old.
Consequently we have a confused expression. We keep the form of logical agreement in standard English, such as, "_This sort_ of trees should be planted;" but at the same time the noun following _kind of_ is felt to be the real subject, and the adjective is, in spoken English, made to agree with it, which accounts for the construction, "_These kind of_ trees are best."