0
Ansonguy Posted 4 years ago
Grammar

[at an early age] or [at early ages]

Suppose that Jim is forty years old and his grandfather is ninety. When his grandfather was under ten, he received much praise for his musical talent. In a similar way, when Jim was six, he received his first international music award. I have made up the sentences below.

(1) Jim and his grandfather showed excellent musical talents at a young age.

(2) Jim and his grandfather showed excellent musical talents at young ages.

Most of my non-native English speaking friends think the singular form "at a young age" is correct because it's a "set phrase". My other friends think the plural form "at young ages" is correct because you are talking about Jim's age and his grandfather's age. That's "two ages". I am not sure who is correct. Please give me your answer. Thank you very much.

  

Top answer

ansonguy "at a young age" is correct because it's a "set phrase" This is the key idea. So use (1). CJ * * * I looked up "at a young age" and "at an early age" in the Google Ngram Viewer.

— CalifJim

  • ansonguy "at a young age" is correct because it's a "set phrase" This is the key idea.
  • So use (1).
  • CJ * * * I looked up "at a young age" and "at an early age" in the Google Ngram Viewer.
  • "at an early age" was used slightly more often than "at a young age".
  • "young age" doesn't actually make sense because it's the person who is young, not the age.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
ansonguy"at a young age" is correct because it's a "set phrase"

This is the key idea.

So use (1).

CJ

* * *

I looked up "at a young age" and "at an early age" in the Google Ngram Viewer. "at an early age" was used slightly more often than "at a young age".

"young age" doesn't actually make sense because it's the person who is y

0
0
ansonguy(1) Jim and his grandfather showed excellent musical talent talents at a young an early age.

If you use the set phrase, you have to be consistent throughout the sentence.

Both Jim and his grandfath

0

Related Questions