Two significant developments during the 1990s

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10-Oct-2009, 04:27
fenglish

Two significant developments during the 1990s

Hi,

Two significant developments during the 1990s

why adding -s to 1990? why not 1990?

Thanks.
10-Oct-2009, 05:18
2006

Re: Two significant developments during the 1990s

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenglish

Hi,

Two significant developments during the 1990s

why adding -s to 1990? why not 1990?

Thanks.

Beause it is a decade, not a year, that is being talked about.
"the 1990s" is a decade.
"1990" is a year. (And there is no 'the' before "1990")
10-Oct-2009, 05:19
Ann1977

Re: Two significant developments during the 1990s

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenglish

Hi,

Two significant developments during the 1990s

why adding -s to 1990? why not 1990?

Thanks.

Adding the s makes the expression "the 1990s" refer to the entire decade -- all the years that begin 199__. This decade is called "the nineties" or "the '90s" or "the 1990s"

If you omit the s, then you are specifying exactly one year: 1990 and no other.

So: "Two significant developments in 1990" = the 365-day period of 1990

But: "Two significant developments during the 1990s" = the ten-year period of the decade numbered 1990 - 1999.
10-Oct-2009, 05:58
fenglish

Re: Two significant developments during the 1990s

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ann1977

Adding the s makes the expression "the 1990s" refer to the entire decade -- all the years that begin 199__. This decade is called "the nineties" or "the '90s" or "the 1990s"

If you omit the s, then you are specifying exactly one year: 1990 and no other.

So: "Two significant developments in 1990" = the 365-day period of 1990

But: "Two significant developments during the 1990s" = the ten-year period of the decade numbered 1990 - 1999.

Thanks.