Grammar problem

[Abhish]

Hello,
My teacher told me that whenever there is a numeral +noun +noun,the first noun behaves as an adjective and it is always singular.
Like Five man committee not five men committee.
I have come across these two phrases in newspapers,
three-month salary
three months' salary
Can you please tell me whether the first noun will be singular only if we use hyphen with it ? Without hyphen will it be plural?
Can I write three month salary? Is it wrong?
Thanks

 

[Odessa Dawn]

​

***NOT A TEACHER***

three-month salary
three months' salary
First noun will be singular only if we use hyphen with it. Without hyphen will it be plural.

I couldn't agree more with your opinion.

three-month salary
three months' salary
Can you please tell me whether the first noun will be singular only if we use hyphen with it ? Without hyphen will it be plural?

Your examples are fine. Regarding your insightful question, when we have a number & noun combined to modify a noun, no plural form is required in the modifier.

Can I write three month salary? Is it wrong?

I think it goes in this way, three months' salary.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello,
My teacher told me that whenever there is a numeral +noun +noun,the first noun behaves as an adjective and it is always singular.
Like Five man committee not five men committee.
I have come across these two phrases in newspapers,
three-month salary
three months' salary
Can you please tell me whether the first noun will be singular only if we use hyphen with it ? Without hyphen will it be plural?
Can I write three month salary? Is it wrong?
Thanks

You are correct that if there are five men on a committee, then it is a "five-man committee".
Your second example is a little confusing. I don't know what a "three month salary" is (or a "three-month salary"). It sounds like a salary which is only paid every three months, ie four times a year.
"Three months' salary" means the total amount of money paid to someone in three months of their normal salaried job. If I earn $500 a month, and I pay $1500 for a computer, I have spent "three months' salary" on the computer.