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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Possessive with Measurements of Space
Possessive with Measurements of Space
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ueslteacher
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Possessive with Measurements of Space
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Never thought of it before but now that I �ve come across it in a test, I �d like to know what the sound grammar says about it. So what would be the correct option? The campers made a .... (10 km hike) - a ten-kilometres � hike?
Lynne? Alex? Bruce? any native-speaking forum people? please share your opinion. Sophia
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17 Oct 2013
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MoodyMoody
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I would say "The campers took a 10 kilometer hike." I would not use the possessive kilometres � because the hike does not belong or pertain to the kilometres. The 10 kilometre is used as an adjective to describe the hike. Since we don �t use plural with adjectives in English, I wouldn �t even use the plural. By the way, "made" instead of took is okay, but as an American English speaker, I �d say took a hike. I also use the American spelling of kilometer, but km or even just k is also acceptable. Since this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I see a lot of ads for 5K and 10K walks. (Yes, even in the USA!) |
17 Oct 2013
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ueslteacher
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Thanks Moody! I decided to take the sentence off the test all together:) as there was nothing from what you mentioned in the given options. Anyways, it would be great to hear something from the British people, so please do contribute.
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17 Oct 2013
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cunliffe
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Yes, a ten kilometre hike. Spoken very infrequently, by the way, as people say a 10k (kay) run/hike.
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17 Oct 2013
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ueslteacher
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Thanks, Lynne, as I was thinking it should have the same form as with the time expressions. Sophia |
17 Oct 2013
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yanogator
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Also, since it �s two words, it needs the hyphen (when used before the noun)
a ten-kilometer hike
The hike was ten kilometers long.
Bruce |
17 Oct 2013
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Tere-arg
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Well... I am not a native speaker, but I know what you are speaking about is a "noun phrase".
You may use expressions like ten kilometers long/ten years old/ten tons/ etc,. before a noun as a compound word -always in singular- acting as an adjective.
A ten-kilometer hike
A ten-year-old boy
A ten-ton lorry
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17 Oct 2013
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douglas
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concerning the "s": don �t use "s" when it serves as an adjective (As I see it. Feel free to shoot holes in this theory if you like, it could be educational for all of us.)
Cheers,
Douglas |
18 Oct 2013
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ueslteacher
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@Tere-arg : I am well aware of that, Maria-Teresa. This case seemed special bacause, as I �ve mentioned, it gave the feeling it should be used the way time expressions are used, which are perfectly fine with possessive s and an apostrophe, e.g. a ten-days � trip, a one-month �s holiday, etc.
@Douglas: thanks for the article! don�t see how "a ten-days � trip" falls under your new theory, though 
Sophia |
18 Oct 2013
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douglas
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You are describing the trip:
a long trip
a ten-day trip
In my opinion, "ten-days" is not correct --maybe it is an AmE thing.
And using a possesive in such a case really spins my head around (the hike belongs to the kilometer?).
Just my thoughts,
Douglas
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18 Oct 2013
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ueslteacher
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???
I can �t send you the reference to the texbooks by mainstream publishers that I �m using, hence the links...
Sophia |
18 Oct 2013
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