http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3614.32638)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38715Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:28:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:38715miriam0http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38715http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-38715.xmlThe problem is very simple: you tried to "reconcile" my explanation with your sentence when your sentence does not exemplify my explanation. I provided examples for my explanations. And I also mentioned focusing on "correctness", not on what is "more common". Sometimes what is more common is correct, some other times it isn't. It is not possible to make one sensible post adding mine to yours; they are different, even opposite. Your sentences are not examples of the explanations I posted. I didn't take my information from google or from "my" logic, but from grammar books. In general, I don't like to use search engines when it comes to grammar, I don't need them when I have information from grammarians. If I found a good grammar...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38712Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:28:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:38712anon11http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38712http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-38712.xmlMiriam, I didn't follow your logic, and perhaps our guest didn't either. Let me explain. If you want to focus on correctness, you might want to avoid using "eleven year old" (without the hyphens). The reason is that, if you use the three words separately, you need the plural "years" when you talk about "eleven". If I use the three words separately, I need the plural "years?" Your sentence (2) could be written as.... She is an eleven year old girl. That is three separate words, but no plural is required as you correctly pointed out it is an adjective. I am trying to reconcile that sentence with your above comment. If you google "eleven year old" you will see many, many examples of each form (with and without the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38709Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:28:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:38709miriam2http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38709http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-38709.xmlHello, Guest. If you want to focus on correctness, you might want to avoid using "eleven year old" (without the hyphens). The reason is that, if you use the three words separately, you need the plural "years" when you talk about "eleven". On the other hand, it is correct to use the noun "year" -in singular- if you use hyphens. 1. She is eleven years old. This has the same meaning as "She was born eleven years ago", and you wouldn't use "year", in singular, in that sentence. You are speaking of a certain number of years in both cases. The following sentences are different: 2. She is an eleven-year-old girl. ("eleven-year-old" is an adjective) 3. Eleven-year-olds are noisy kids. ("eleven-year-olds" is a noun) Miriamhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38431Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:28:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:38431anon13http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htm#38431http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-38431.xmlThey are all correct, under the right circumstances. 1) An eleven year old boy will usually be in grade 5. 2) I was eleven years old when I was in grade 5. But some people like to write sentence 1 as the following: 3) An eleven-year-old year old boy will usually be in grade 5. You will see both forms "eleven year old" and "eleven-year-old" used with great frequency as I have shown in sentences 1 & 3. It's a matter of style. I slightly prefer 3, but that is just one person's opinion. Google "eleven year old" (with quotes) and you will see that both forms are in common usage. Hope that helps.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htmTue, 24 Mar 2009 08:28:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:38415Guest4http://www.englishforums.com/English/ElevenYearS/hnpm/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-38415.xmlEleven year old, eleven years old, eleven-year-old. Which one is the right one?