Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Teo]

1. I once studied the guitar three years.

2. That house has been empty six months.

3. We go away three weeks every summer.

4. My boss will be in Italy the next ten days.

5. I'm going to Canada the summer.

Which of the above sentences is NOT acceptable?
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Thank you very much for your reply.

[MrPedantic]

Hello Teo

To me, they sound as follows:

1. I once studied the guitar three years. ] Not acceptable.

2. That house has been empty six months. ] I'd prefer "for 6 months"; but you do sometimes hear this choppier adverbial formation, so I wouldn't rule it out.

3. We go away three weeks every summer. ] Again, I'd prefer "for three weeks". It seems to move a little closer to oddness than #2.

4. My boss will be in Italy the next ten days. ] As for #2 and #3.

5. I'm going to Canada the summer. ] No; this has an air of BabelFish.

MrP