Quote:
Originally Posted by hela Good morning,
Would you say "I went for a three days' journey" or "I went for three days' journey"? Now if we can say neither in which types of sentences can I use the possessive with units of measurement? Would you please give me more examples? |
I would agree with MM:
1. ?It's a five miles' walk.
2. It's a five-mile walk.
I would find #1 a little strange too; but #2 is fine (though I would take it as "compound adjective + noun", rather than a compound noun).
3. I went on a three-day journey. [not "for"]
4. I went on a three days' journey.
5. *I went on three days' journey.
#3 is fine; #4 doesn't seem objectionable to me, though it might sound old-fashioned in some contexts. #5 doesn't seem to work; but
6. After three days' walking, I found myself in the rose-red city.
is fine.
All the best,
MrP
PS: Would you also find "a three weeks' bonus" odd, Mister M?