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Jack112 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Months

Are these correct? What do they mean?
1. Ten months is a very long time. (If this is okay, why? The subject here is 'ten months' ?)
2. Ten months are a very long time.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hello Jack If the context is 'period of time', I would use 'is': 'ten months' is a single period. So: 1. Ten months is a very long time.

— MrPedantic

  • Hello Jack If the context is 'period of time', I would use 'is': 'ten months' is a single period.
  • So: 1.
  • Ten months is a very long time.
  • If the context is 'something about individual months', I would use 'are': 2.
  • Two months are named for Roman emperors.
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3 Answers
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Hello Jack

If the context is 'period of time', I would use 'is': 'ten months' is a single period. So:

1. Ten months is a very long time.

If the context is 'something about individual months', I would use 'are':

2. Two months are named for Roman emperors.

MrP
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If the context is 'period of time', I would use 'is': 'ten months' is a single period.


What about these? These are periods of time? Do I use 'were' or 'was'? To me, I think I should use 'were'? Why? What do they mean?
1. Those ten hours were very long.
2. Those ten hours was very long.

3. That ten minutes is very long.
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Hello Jack

Yes, as soon as you add a determiner, you have to use a plural verb.

'Those ten hours were very long' – those specific ten hours.

'Ten hours is a very long time' – a chunk of time which = 10 hours.

MrP
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