eslHQ - is this acceptable?

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brentonng

Jul 6th, 2012 08:17 pm

is this acceptable?

HI everyone, I have got a question.

are the following sentences acceptable? I have this doubt because there is an indefinite article before a plural noun.

Quote:

It took her a mere 20 minutes to dispose of her opponent.

We have an additional 21 bombers.

susan53

Jul 7th, 2012 05:43 am

Re: is this acceptable?

Yes, they're fine. When you have a noun phrase consisting of an adjective + cardinal number + plural noun - as in both your sentences - it's as if the "things" in the noun phrase were seen as one group. You could gloss these sentences as :

a mere period of 20 minutes
an additional force of 21 bombers.

brentonng

Jul 8th, 2012 10:45 pm

Re: is this acceptable?

thank you very much. I've got a better understanding.

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