Q:在 Approximately 15 minutes is (or are) allowed for questions and comments. 這句中,主詞 fifteen minutes 是單數還是複數呢?

A:在 Approximately 15 minutes is (or are) allowed for questions and comments. (允許約 15 分鐘提問和發表意見) 這句中,fifteen minutes 應被視為一個時間的總量,而以單數的實體來看待之;換言之,這裡要使用單數動詞 is,正如 Fifteen minutes is not a very long time. (15 分鐘不是一段很長的時間) 一樣。

當主詞為「一段時間」、「一筆金錢」、「一段距離」、「一個重量」時,若形式為複數,但意義上為單數時,須用單數動詞。然而,若這些複數名詞不是表示「單一的觀念」,則必須接複數動詞。例如:

  • Ten miles is too long a distance for her to walk. (走 10 英里對她來說太長了)
    Five meters of cloth have been measured off. (五公尺的布已經量好剪下來了)
  • Three hundred dollars is too much to pay for that book. (花 300 元買那本書太貴了)
    One hundred cents make a dollar. (一百分就是一美元)
  • Twenty days is too long a time for me. (20 天對我來說太久了)
    Three years have passed since I graduated. (我畢業迄今已三年了)
    - 複數時間名詞若與 pass 和 go by 等動詞連用,一般都用複數動詞。
  • Thirty pounds is too heavy for me to lift. (30 磅太重了,我提不起來)
    Three hundred and one kilograms of heroin have been seized this year. (今年已破獲 301 公斤的海洛因)
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