Mixing
Why do we say “a one-legged manâ€, with a final ed, but also say “ a one-person job†without?
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We also say
A two-minute walk.
A six-hour flight.
But then we say
A green-eyed woman
Black-eyed peas
When I think about it, it seems to me the pattern with a final d/ed suggests the idea of having, as in having green eyes. But this theory doesn't seem to work with some other compound adjectives like
A two-storey building
It should be two-storeyed because it means made of or having two storeys.
grammar difference compounds suffixes
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
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asked 1 hour ago
Sara
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up vote
3
down vote
favorite
We also say
A two-minute walk.
A six-hour flight.
But then we say
A green-eyed woman
Black-eyed peas
When I think about it, it seems to me the pattern with a final d/ed suggests the idea of having, as in having green eyes. But this theory doesn't seem to work with some other compound adjectives like
A two-storey building
It should be two-storeyed because it means made of or having two storeys.
grammar difference compounds suffixes
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
We also say
A two-minute walk.
A six-hour flight.
But then we say
A green-eyed woman
Black-eyed peas
When I think about it, it seems to me the pattern with a final d/ed suggests the idea of having, as in having green eyes. But this theory doesn't seem to work with some other compound adjectives like
A two-storey building
It should be two-storeyed because it means made of or having two storeys.
grammar difference compounds suffixes
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
We also say
A two-minute walk.
A six-hour flight.
But then we say
A green-eyed woman
Black-eyed peas
When I think about it, it seems to me the pattern with a final d/ed suggests the idea of having, as in having green eyes. But this theory doesn't seem to work with some other compound adjectives like
A two-storey building
It should be two-storeyed because it means made of or having two storeys.
grammar difference compounds suffixes
grammar difference compounds suffixes
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
edited 45 mins ago
snailboat♦
28.5k586148
28.5k586148
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
asked 1 hour ago
Sara
1,0841722
1,0841722
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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The past participle formed from a part of the body(eye, arm, leg, foot, etc) means "having said body part", as you say; a number in front indicates how many there are:
a three-legged stool
a one-eyed pirate
a four-armed deity
a seven-headed dragon
a three-headed dog
With units of measure we do not do this; rather we use the unit of measure in the singular:
a twelve-inch ruler
a six-hour flight
With buildings, storey can be understood as unit of measure or as a component of the building, so that both are possible:
a ten-storey building
three-storeyed terraces
storeyed dwellings
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
The past participle formed from a part of the body(eye, arm, leg, foot, etc) means "having said body part", as you say; a number in front indicates how many there are:
a three-legged stool
a one-eyed pirate
a four-armed deity
a seven-headed dragon
a three-headed dog
With units of measure we do not do this; rather we use the unit of measure in the singular:
a twelve-inch ruler
a six-hour flight
With buildings, storey can be understood as unit of measure or as a component of the building, so that both are possible:
a ten-storey building
three-storeyed terraces
storeyed dwellings
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
The past participle formed from a part of the body(eye, arm, leg, foot, etc) means "having said body part", as you say; a number in front indicates how many there are:
a three-legged stool
a one-eyed pirate
a four-armed deity
a seven-headed dragon
a three-headed dog
With units of measure we do not do this; rather we use the unit of measure in the singular:
a twelve-inch ruler
a six-hour flight
With buildings, storey can be understood as unit of measure or as a component of the building, so that both are possible:
a ten-storey building
three-storeyed terraces
storeyed dwellings
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
The past participle formed from a part of the body(eye, arm, leg, foot, etc) means "having said body part", as you say; a number in front indicates how many there are:
a three-legged stool
a one-eyed pirate
a four-armed deity
a seven-headed dragon
a three-headed dog
With units of measure we do not do this; rather we use the unit of measure in the singular:
a twelve-inch ruler
a six-hour flight
With buildings, storey can be understood as unit of measure or as a component of the building, so that both are possible:
a ten-storey building
three-storeyed terraces
storeyed dwellings
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
The past participle formed from a part of the body(eye, arm, leg, foot, etc) means "having said body part", as you say; a number in front indicates how many there are:
a three-legged stool
a one-eyed pirate
a four-armed deity
a seven-headed dragon
a three-headed dog
With units of measure we do not do this; rather we use the unit of measure in the singular:
a twelve-inch ruler
a six-hour flight
With buildings, storey can be understood as unit of measure or as a component of the building, so that both are possible:
a ten-storey building
three-storeyed terraces
storeyed dwellings
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
answered 1 hour ago
TᴚoɯÉÂuo
94.3k671156
94.3k671156
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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