Which one is correct?

[dawoodusmani]

Hi dear teachers!
Which one is correct?
1. How many miles do we mean by three-day journey?
2. How many miles do we mean by three day journey?
3. How many miles do we mean by three days' journey?
4. How many miles do we mean by three days journey?


Best regards!
Dawood

[rj1948]

How many miles do we mean by three -day journey.-correct

[David L.]

dawoodusmani : this doesn't make sense.

It's like asking, how many men in a house?

What is the context of this question? Until we rephrase the question, we can't be sure of the grammar.

[dawoodusmani]

Originally Posted by David L.

dawoodusmani : this doesn't make sense.

It's like asking, how many men in a house?

What is the context of this question? Until we rephrase the question, we can't be sure of the grammar.

Actually, according to an Islamic injunction, a traveller has some privileges due to which they are allowed not to act upon some duties. But the question rises who would be considered to be the real traveller. The teaching says: The one who intends to set out for three days would be considered to be a real traveller. Again, there are so many modes of transportation and one can travel faraway places within a few hours which seems to mean that there can't be anyone who would be considered to be a traveller. Then, the answer has been given that three days journey means a distance of 48 miles. I want to ask my students this question that how many miles do we mean by three days journey.
I'm not sure whether I've been clear enough or not.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Dawood

[David L.]

You've had a turn of explaining something mystifying to me!.
Context...and culture, can determine meaning!

Then in the book where this is explained, it would be as you stated : '...that three days journey means a distance of 48 miles.'...and more importantly, today, you can do that in a car!
Hence, when asking the question, it cannot be 'a three-days journey', since the distance is actually irrespective of the time taken for the journey.
Also, I doubt it can be 'a three-day journey' - this suggests, 'compared to a 4-day journey which has some other religious significance'.
Rather we are talking about a totality, a religious concept, so I would go for:
How many miles do we mean by "three days' journey"? (and note the quotes).

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by dawoodusmani

Hi dear teachers!
Which one is correct?
1. How many miles do we mean by three-day journey?
2. How many miles do we mean by three day journey?
3. How many miles do we mean by three days' journey?
4. How many miles do we mean by three days journey?


Best regards!
Dawood

Hi Dawood,

How many miles do we mean by a three-day journey?

[rj1948]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

Hi Dawood,

How many miles do we mean by a three-day journey?

I'm afraid we are missing the woods for trees.the question is --which is correct/
Three-day.
Three day.
Three day's
Three days'

The answer is "three-day journey.

[naomimalan]

Originally Posted by dawoodusmani

Hi dear teachers!
Which one is correct?
1. How many miles do we mean by a three-day journey?
2. How many miles do we mean by a three day journey?
3. How many miles do we mean by a three days' journey?
4. How many miles do we mean by a three days journey?


Best regards!
Dawood

According to the "Oxford Practice Grammar"*, it would be:

3. How many miles do we mean by a three days' journey?

although I think there is some flexibility in this area. Personally, I would be inclined to accept them all except N°4.

With expressions of time you very often use the possessive. John Eastwood gives these examples:

last week's concert
about a month's work
in two months' time
today's TV programmes
a year's salary etc

*Oxford Practice Grammar, John Eastwood, OUP 1992, 71C

[rj1948]

GOOGLE Search for''THREE-DAY" throws a lot of headlines with'THREE-DAY"visit by many heads of state