Passage of time ...

limey · 03-02-2012, 06:03 AM

Another English language question ...

sexobon · 03-02-2012, 06:42 AM

Perhaps:

A unit (singular) of time has passed ...
Units (plural) of time have passed ...

e.g.:

A decade has passed ... (A ten year period has passed ...)
Ten years have passed ...

A week has passed ... (A seven day window has passed)
Seven days have passed

An hour has passed ... (A 60 minute time frame has passed)
60 minutes have passed ...

limey · 03-02-2012, 07:09 AM

But what if "ten years" is viewed as a block of time ...?

monster · 03-02-2012, 07:17 AM

have passed.

My current bugbear is "A savings of....."

argh

sexobon · 03-02-2012, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

But what if "ten years" is viewed as a block of time ...?

If it's mutually understood that in context "ten years" is short for a ten year block (singular); then, has could be used. I'd view it as an idiomatic expression.

Big Sarge · 03-02-2012, 11:01 AM

Lord, I wish ya'll could meet some of the folks down in the MS Delta. I think you would go into grammar meltdown

footfootfoot · 03-02-2012, 11:20 AM

These ones have passed, on accident.

infinite monkey · 03-02-2012, 11:28 AM

I don't want to be rekwaared to get my ass back up in them woods.

infinite monkey · 03-02-2012, 11:29 AM

My brother likes to tell the kids "Come here once."

BigV · 03-02-2012, 11:38 AM

Grammar: the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit.

BigV · 03-02-2012, 11:42 AM

while we're on the subject of TEN.

Please help me with this one.

"The handle saver cost less than ten dollars."

or

"The handle saver cost fewer than ten dollars."

***

Honestly, when I have a puzzle like this I prefer to change the structure to be less ambiguous. "The price of the handle saver was under ten dollars."

Spexxvet · 03-02-2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

while we're on the subject of TEN.

Please help me with this one.

"The handle saver cost less than ten dollars."

or

"The handle saver cost fewer than ten dollars."

***

Honestly, when I have a puzzle like this I prefer to change the structure to be less ambiguous. "The price of the handle saver was under ten dollars."

If you can count them, it's fewer, if not, it's less.

Fewer dollars
Less water

classicman · 03-02-2012, 11:51 AM

"The handle saver costs under ten dollars."

HungLikeJesus · 03-02-2012, 11:57 AM

The handle saver costs just $9.99!

But wait, that's not all! Order in the next 10 minutes and we'll throw in the lid holder AND the carrot peeler at no extra charge.

Operators are standing by!

infinite monkey · 03-02-2012, 11:58 AM

It's from RONCO, and it really really works!

View Poll Results: Which is better ...
Ten years has passed since he decided to start a business.	2	12.50%
Ten years have passed since he decided to start a business.	14	87.50%
Something else, and Imma gonna tell you!	0	0%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

03-02-2012, 06:03 AM	#1
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Passage of time ... Another English language question ... __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

03-02-2012, 07:09 AM	#3
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	But what if "ten years" is viewed as a block of time ...? __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

03-02-2012, 07:17 AM	#4
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	have passed. My current bugbear is "A savings of....." argh __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-02-2012, 11:01 AM	#6
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	Lord, I wish ya'll could meet some of the folks down in the MS Delta. I think you would go into grammar meltdown __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

03-02-2012, 06:42 AM	#2
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Perhaps: A unit (singular) of time has passed ... Units (plural) of time have passed ... e.g.: A decade has passed ... (A ten year period has passed ...) Ten years have passed ... A week has passed ... (A seven day window has passed) Seven days have passed An hour has passed ... (A 60 minute time frame has passed) 60 minutes have passed ...

03-02-2012, 11:20 AM	#7
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	These ones have passed, on accident. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

03-02-2012, 11:28 AM	#8
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	I don't want to be rekwaared to get my ass back up in them woods.

03-02-2012, 11:29 AM	#9
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	My brother likes to tell the kids "Come here once."

03-02-2012, 11:38 AM	#10
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Grammar: the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

03-02-2012, 11:42 AM	#11
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	while we're on the subject of TEN. Please help me with this one. "The handle saver cost less than ten dollars." or "The handle saver cost fewer than ten dollars." *** Honestly, when I have a puzzle like this I prefer to change the structure to be less ambiguous. "The price of the handle saver was under ten dollars." __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

03-02-2012, 11:51 AM	#13
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	"The handle saver costs under ten dollars." __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

03-02-2012, 11:57 AM	#14
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	The handle saver costs just $9.99! But wait, that's not all! Order in the next 10 minutes and we'll throw in the lid holder AND the carrot peeler at no extra charge. Operators are standing by! __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

03-02-2012, 11:58 AM	#15
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	It's from RONCO, and it really really works!

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