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 #2 (permalink) Wed Dec 22, 2010 19:38 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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are there.
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Beeesneees
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:44 am how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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Why then do we say " Fifty miles is a long distance ?
What is the difference ?
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 Ahmeeeeeeeeeed
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Apr 07, 2011 17:59 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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With different measurements of time/distance/length it is correct to use the plural when the description comes after the noun and to use the singular when the description comes before the noun.
You will find more examples here:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic73003.html
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Apr 07, 2011 19:44 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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Please activate Javascript in your browser to listen to this audio recording | 30 Listened |
| Beeesneees wrote: | With different measurements of time/distance/length it is correct to use the plural when the description comes after the noun and to use the singular when the description comes before the noun.
You will find more examples here:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic73003.html |
That is of course true if it were a question about either a fifty mile journey or a journey of fifty miles but I would say this is a different question.
We say fifty miles is a long distance because we are talking about the distance and not the individual miles.
Alan
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| #6 (permalink) Thu Apr 07, 2011 22:33 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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Fair enough, fair point. Thanks :)
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Beeesneees
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| #7 (permalink) Fri Apr 08, 2011 0:23 am how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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| Ahmeeeeeeeeeed wrote: | How many kilometres "is there" or are there between Egypt and France?
How many kilometres "is there" or are there in a mile? |
The question 'how many?' basically asks you to count something. So, we would be counting kilometers, and thus viewing them individually rather than looking at them collectively as a single unit. This is the case in both of your examples.
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| #8 (permalink) Fri Apr 08, 2011 16:58 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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A fifty miles distance is a long way to walk.
fifty miles ~ adjective
There is only one distance used in the sentence.
But in my opinion,
'Fifty miles is a long way to go on foot,' is correct as well.
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| #9 (permalink) Fri Apr 08, 2011 17:29 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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Please activate Javascript in your browser to listen to this audio recording | 26 Listened |
No - when used as an adjective the singular form is needed:
| Quote: | | A fifty miles distance is a long way to walk |
. No 's',
Anyhow this-is written better as: A distance of fifty miles ...
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| #10 (permalink) Fri Apr 08, 2011 23:33 pm how many kilometres" is there" or" are there " ? |
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Teacher Alan, please explain why singular is needed if words "fifty" and "mile" are used as a compound adjective.
Fifty mile ~ Does it mean "a mile fifty times"?
In addition, what about this form below?
Fifty mile a distance is a long way to go on foot.
Anyway this is not clear to me at all.
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