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May 13 Information
close and closed --- related?
I would like to add another question: has the word "CLOSE" ever meant "NOT OPEN"? If so, then, what dictionary cites the meaning? thank you. You have all been helpful. I am expecting a reply.
Apologies, in error I stated that the question was answered last time but in fact the (similar) question which preceded it was what I was thinking of. --
Alex16zx08:02, 16 May 2007 (UTC)reply
ten years old?
please compare the two:
I am a ten-year old child.
I am ten years old.
I am confused. Why can we not say "I am ten-year old?" Is it because of the last word being a noun or an adjective? I hope somebody will be able to help me out on this. Please lecture me (I hope that's an appropriate word). I am really racking my brain, trying to figure out why that is so.. Thank you in advance.
Carlrichard19:10, 14 May 2007 (UTC)reply
Normally, when you precede a measure by a quantity greater than one, the word indicating the quantity is put in the plural: We have been waiting for two hours; This pole is ten feet long. However, when such a quantified measure is used as a modifier, the singular form is used: A two-hour wait; A ten-foot pole. Now you may ask: why is "ten years" in "I am ten years old" not a modifier of "old"? Well, there is no particular good reason for why it isn't, but that is the way it has turned out in English grammar. You can also say "He was ten years of age", but not *"He was a ten-year of age child", so these are different constructions. --
LambiamTalk08:07, 13 May 2007 (UTC)reply
Although strangely, at least in
British English it is perfectly normal to say This pole is ten foot long. Seems only to happen with the imperial units feet and stone(s?) though. Also in British English, ten foot poles (with which you shouldn't touch someone) are traditionally bargepoles.
Cyta08:04, 14 May 2007 (UTC)reply
Hmm, most Brits would probably say this, but it's not standard English. In many varieties spoken in the UK counting nouns don't get pluralised: where I grew up (
Tyneside) people did say I'm ten year old, as well as ten foot, even that I walked five mile (though the singular form with 'year' and 'mile' is probably rarer than with 'foot').
Drmaik09:17, 14 May 2007 (UTC)reply
Yes, we do a similar thing in East Yorkshire - "he's five foot tall" [common], "that was ten year ago" [less common] etc. I've always assumed this was the influence of Scandinavian, where I believe the standard form for such things is the singular, but perhaps a Danish speaker can enlighten me further. —The preceding
unsigned comment was added by
194.66.229.8 (
talk)
10:13, 14 May 2007 (UTC).reply
Indeed that seems to be a north eastern thing, I think six foot tall or weighing thirteen and a half stone (personal details revealed here!) are more universal across Britain, although I never thought about it till now. I'll have to listen out
Cyta11:21, 14 May 2007 (UTC)reply
Can anyone provide a web site address that discusses more on the grammar rules on the above-mentioned sentences.. thank you?
Carlrichard19:10, 14 May 2007 (UTC)reply