Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, everyone!

1. I don't think two years is a very long time.
2. I don't think two years are a very long time.

I understand "is" is grammaticall correct. However, I've also found many examples of "...years are..." on the Internet.

Can "are" be okay as well as "is"?

Thank you!

yoshi-pooh

[2006]

1) Stick with "is".
Numerical expressions of time, money and distance take a singular verb. But 'The years are flying by.' is correct.

2) grammatically correct.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Not to dispute 2006, but to clarify...

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, Mister Micawber

Thank you for your reply.

According to your reply, are both is and are fine in the sentence below?

I don't think two years (is/ are) a very long period of time.


yoshi-pooh

[Mister Micawber]

No. Now you have set up the two years as an overt period of time, so use 'is'.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's