plural attributive nouns ³

在当代英语里,a few days rest 的说法日益增多,英语语法学家们已承认此种用法的“合法”性。例如：

1. a ten day absence a ten days absence a ten days' absence(10 天的缺席)(CGEL)

2. a ten weeks vacation (CGEL) (一个 10 周的假期)

3. He reckons he only needs six hours sleep at night. (CIDE) 他认为他一夜只需要6个小时的睡眠。

当然,复数名词所有格形式用得更多一些:

1. How many hours' sleep do you need? 你需要多少小时的睡眠？

2. We should learn the value of money and learn how many hours' work has to be done before we can buy something. 我们应当了解金钱的价值,应当了解需要劳动多少小时才能买回某件物品。