Why is “ten-minute break” singular but “two weeks' time” uses a plural?
We say a ten-minute break
We say two weeks' time.
Ten-minute is singular but two weeks' is plural, why?
phrases phrase-analysis
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
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asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
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We say a ten-minute break
We say two weeks' time.
Ten-minute is singular but two weeks' is plural, why?
phrases phrase-analysis
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
We would also say "in ten minutes' time" and "a two week break" It has nothing to do with ten minute and two weeks; what causes the difference is the words break and time.
– Peter Shor
16 hours ago
add a comment |
We say a ten-minute break
We say two weeks' time.
Ten-minute is singular but two weeks' is plural, why?
phrases phrase-analysis
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
We say a ten-minute break
We say two weeks' time.
Ten-minute is singular but two weeks' is plural, why?
phrases phrase-analysis
phrases phrase-analysis
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
edited 6 hours ago
Chappo
2,92451325
2,92451325
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
asked 16 hours ago
Yasser MohYasser Moh
111
111
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Yasser Moh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
We would also say "in ten minutes' time" and "a two week break" It has nothing to do with ten minute and two weeks; what causes the difference is the words break and time.
– Peter Shor
16 hours ago
add a comment |
3
We would also say "in ten minutes' time" and "a two week break" It has nothing to do with ten minute and two weeks; what causes the difference is the words break and time.
– Peter Shor
16 hours ago
3
3
We would also say "in ten minutes' time" and "a two week break" It has nothing to do with ten minute and two weeks; what causes the difference is the words break and time.
– Peter Shor
16 hours ago
We would also say "in ten minutes' time" and "a two week break" It has nothing to do with ten minute and two weeks; what causes the difference is the words break and time.
– Peter Shor
16 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It all depends on the countability or uncountability of the noun. "time", as used in your phrase, is uncountable, while "break" is countable (notice you say "a ten-minute break).
With words used in such phrases which can be either countable or uncountable, we can find both variants:
a. Use of the genitive (the noun has to be uncountable):
- I had three weeks' vacation.
b. Use of a compound noun formed by numeral+singular measure of time (with countable nouns):
- I had a three-week vacation.
In your examples, "time" is uncountable and thus uses pattern (a), while "break" is countable and uses pattern (b).
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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votes
It all depends on the countability or uncountability of the noun. "time", as used in your phrase, is uncountable, while "break" is countable (notice you say "a ten-minute break).
With words used in such phrases which can be either countable or uncountable, we can find both variants:
a. Use of the genitive (the noun has to be uncountable):
- I had three weeks' vacation.
b. Use of a compound noun formed by numeral+singular measure of time (with countable nouns):
- I had a three-week vacation.
In your examples, "time" is uncountable and thus uses pattern (a), while "break" is countable and uses pattern (b).
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
add a comment |
It all depends on the countability or uncountability of the noun. "time", as used in your phrase, is uncountable, while "break" is countable (notice you say "a ten-minute break).
With words used in such phrases which can be either countable or uncountable, we can find both variants:
a. Use of the genitive (the noun has to be uncountable):
- I had three weeks' vacation.
b. Use of a compound noun formed by numeral+singular measure of time (with countable nouns):
- I had a three-week vacation.
In your examples, "time" is uncountable and thus uses pattern (a), while "break" is countable and uses pattern (b).
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
add a comment |
It all depends on the countability or uncountability of the noun. "time", as used in your phrase, is uncountable, while "break" is countable (notice you say "a ten-minute break).
With words used in such phrases which can be either countable or uncountable, we can find both variants:
a. Use of the genitive (the noun has to be uncountable):
- I had three weeks' vacation.
b. Use of a compound noun formed by numeral+singular measure of time (with countable nouns):
- I had a three-week vacation.
In your examples, "time" is uncountable and thus uses pattern (a), while "break" is countable and uses pattern (b).
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
It all depends on the countability or uncountability of the noun. "time", as used in your phrase, is uncountable, while "break" is countable (notice you say "a ten-minute break).
With words used in such phrases which can be either countable or uncountable, we can find both variants:
a. Use of the genitive (the noun has to be uncountable):
- I had three weeks' vacation.
b. Use of a compound noun formed by numeral+singular measure of time (with countable nouns):
- I had a three-week vacation.
In your examples, "time" is uncountable and thus uses pattern (a), while "break" is countable and uses pattern (b).
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
answered 15 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,9911613
1,9911613
add a comment |
add a comment |
Yasser Moh is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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3
We would also say "in ten minutes' time" and "a two week break" It has nothing to do with ten minute and two weeks; what causes the difference is the words break and time.
– Peter Shor
16 hours ago