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HSS Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Adjective + Number + Measure

Do the sentences of the following pairs basically mean the same?

[1] Chris's boat is longer than ours by a good ten feet.
[2] Chris's boat is longer than ours by ten good feet.

[3] Will weighs an impressive 200 pounds
[4] Will weighs 200 impressive pounds.

[5] He lept a fantastic 25 1/2 feet in the long jump.
[ 6] He lept 25 1/2 fantastic feet in the long jump.

[7] Jane finished that difficult job in an excellent 20 minutes.
[ 8] Jane finished that difficult job in 20 excellent minutes.

Thanks,

Hiro
  

Top answer

Hi, In each of these pairs, the first sounds normal and the second sounds odd. The idea is that it is the whole quantity that is, eg, fantastic. In other words, for example, if you jump 25eet, the first foot does not seem impressive, nor does the second.

— Clive

  • Hi, In each of these pairs, the first sounds normal and the second sounds odd.
  • The idea is that it is the whole quantity that is, eg, fantastic.
  • In other words, for example, if you jump 25eet, the first foot does not seem impressive, nor does the second.
  • But the complete amount of 25 feet does.
  • Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

In each of these pairs, the first sounds normal and the second sounds odd.

The idea is that it is the whole quantity that is, eg, fantastic.

In other words, for example, if you jump 25eet, the first foot does not seem impressive, nor does the second. But the complete amount of 25 feet does.

Clive
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Only 1 and 3 strike me as idiomatic. 5 is borderline.

CJ
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Thanks, Clive and CJ.
CalifJimOnly 1 and 3 strike me as idiomatic. 5 is borderline.

CJ

What do you think makes 5 borderline, CJ?

Hiro
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