five years is/are
× Two weeks are enough for a nice vacation. 这是托福试题中的一道改错题。请问句中的动词 are 有什么错误？
表示时间的名词短语有时在概念上被看成是一个时间单位或时间段,故后面接单数动词,也就是说,这里起作用的是概念一致的原则:
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Fifteen years represents a long period of his life. (CGEL) (fifteen years 在概念上表示 that period) 十五年表示他生命的一个很长的时期。
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Five hours isn't enough. 五个小时是不够的。
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A hundred years is called a century. 一百年叫做一个世纪。
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Two hours is the limit of this test. 两小时是这次考试的时限。
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A number of years passes. (English for Today) 许多年过去了。
请做下面的英语试题：
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“How many days?” “Did you say that five days ____ required to complete the work?” A. are B. were C. was D. is
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Fifteen minutes are all that I can spare to talk over this matter with you. (EPT 教程)
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A survey of the opinions of experts ____ that three hours of outdoor exercise a week ____ good for one's health.
A. show; are B. shows; is C. show; is D. shows; are(全国高考江西卷,07-25)
[附注]虽然各类英语测试要求数词 + 时间单位名词的复数使用单数动词,但是,在英语著作中常常会发现一些反例。这是因为作者把名词短语所表达的时间看作是可分离的一年一年,一月一月,一周一周,分分秒秒的缘故(见 minutes is/are )。例如:
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Three years have elapsed since we last met. (ALD) 自从我们上次相见至今已过了三年。
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The years 1978 through 1980 were among the most difficult, exhilarating, glorious and heartbreaking in my life. (Hillary, Living History) 1978 到 1980 年, 是我生命中最困难、最刺激、最荣耀也是最伤心的时期。