Please explain their differences

Question

Hi,How long does the film last?1.It lasts an hour.2.It lasts one hour.3.It lasts only an hour.4.It lasts only one hour.5.It lasts more than an hour.6.It lasts more than one hour.Which is correct above? what's the difference in meaning between #1 and #2, #3 and #4, #5 and #6?How many hours does the film last?1.It lasts an hour.2.It last one hour.Which is correct?Thanks.

Fandorin · Accepted Answer

As I know indefinite article sometimes has a tint of quantitative means, approaching to word "one". There is no difference to me in those sentences.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Thank you for your reply. Can any native speakers offer your comments on the thread? Thanks a lot.

BarbaraPA · Answer

In most cases, you'll hear "an."

If I said "one hour" I'd be emphasizing the exact duration. It's one hour. Excactly. 60 minutes.

"An hour" really could be 55 minutes or an hour and a few minutes.

Can you tell me the context in which you'd say either #5 or #6?

Seloc@n · Answer

Especially in 5 and 6 sentences, the usage of more than an hour equals more than one hour.

I suppose there is no difference between them.

Renan torres-rivero · Answer

You can say "an" or "one" without changing in meaning. But, you shall say "it lasts..." --> Simple Present for the Third Person Singular: "the film" = it.

Cheers!

;-)

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Thanks all for your comments.

GG:

Grammar Geek
In most cases, you'll hear "an."

Do you mean all the answers to the questions in my earlier post are correct? If I ask with how many hours, can I answer it with 'an hour' as in

How many hours does it last? It lasts an hour.

If I said "one hour" I'd be emphasizing the exact duration. It's one hour. Excactly. 60 minutes.

Do you mean 'only an hour' and 'only one hour' have the same difference as 'an hour' and 'one hour' here?

"An hour" really could be 55 minutes or an hour and a few minutes.

Can you tell me the context in which you'd say either #5 or #6?

How long have you learned English?

A: I have learned it for more than a month.

B: I have learned it for more than one month.

Could you please tell me the difference here?

Thanks again!

CalifJim · Answer

Use only the first of each pair (with an) when someone asks you how long the film lasts, as you suggest as an example.

Use the second (with one) only when the amount of time is in dispute and/or you need to contrast one with some other number:

-- Henry says the film lasts two hours.
-- He's wrong. It lasts one hour. I'm sure of it.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,
Thank you very much for your comment.

1.How many hours does the film last?
1).It lasts an hour.
2).It last one hour.
Could you tell me which is correct here?

2.If the film lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes, should I use #3 or #4 for the example below?

If the film lasts two hours,
should I use #3 or #4 for the example below?

How long does the film last?
3).It lasts more than an hour.
4).It lasts more than one hour.

I heard 'more than an hour' means less than two hours such as an hour and five minutes.
But 'more than one hour' means the duration may be two or three, etc hours. What do you think about it? Is the statement right or wrong?

3.How long does the film last?
5)It lasts less than an hour.
6)It lasts less than one hour.
Is #5 correct and #6 is not?

Thanks.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I"m not CJ, but perhaps you won't mind if I answer:

1.How many hours does the film last?
1).It lasts an hour.

2.If the film lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes, should I use #3 or #4 for the example below?

It last about an hour and a quarter. It runs about 75 minutes.

If the film lasts two hours, should I use #3 or #4 for the example below? No! That would be deceptive. "More than hour" is logically correct in that 2 hours is more than one hour, but I would be expecting it to still be around an hour long - maybe ten or fifteen minutes longer, but not an entire hour longer.

I heard 'more than an hour' means less than two hours such as an hour and five minutes. Yes, I agree - 5, 10, or even 15 minutes more.
But 'more than one hour' means the duration may be two or three, etc hours. What do you think about it? Is the statement right or wrong? Again, logically correct but not how people communicate. It's useless information to be so vague.

3.How long does the film last?
5)It lasts less than an hour.

As CJ said, you would use the "one" hour to counter something someone else had said.

A: The film runs about two hours.
B: Oh, no, I think it's much closer to lasting about one hour.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi GG,
Thanks again for giving your comment.

Does 'more than one hour' mean two, three or four etc. hours?

A: The film lasts only an hour.
B: No. It lasts more than an/one hour.
Is an or one correct here?

Thanks.

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