Plural or singular?
Could you please tell me which is right:
'How many years of experience are required' or 'How many years of experience is required'?
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
With time periods expressed in units of time, the choice between the singular and the plural is decided on the basis of whether the focus is on the time period as a single entity (singular) or whether the focus is on a count of the number of units of time (plural). That means that either way might be possible in many sentences. Nevertheless, I interpret "years of experience" as a single length of time, so I would use the singular in the case of your example: How many years of experience is required?
- With time periods expressed in units of time, the choice between the singular and the plural is decided on the basis of whether the focus is on the time period as a single entity (singular) or whether the focus is on a count of the number of units of time (plural).
- That means that either way might be possible in many sentences.
- Nevertheless, I interpret "years of experience" as a single length of time, so I would use the singular in the case of your example: How many years of experience is required?
- In the following case there may have been a lengthy discussion of the exact number of years of exile that were appropriate.
- Five?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
With time periods expressed in units of time, the choice between the singular and the plural is decided on the basis of whether the focus is on the time period as a single entity (singular) or whether the focus is on a count of the number of units of time (plural). That means that either way might be possible in many sentences.
Nevertheless, I interpret "years of experience" as a single
0
Related Questions