Lily
'Like my father's come to pass, seven years has gone so fast.'Shouldn't it be 'seven years have gone so fast'? I love Green Day and this is one of my fav. songs. I have listened to it for so many years but it's the first time I have noticed this :D! The song is 'wake me up when September ends' if you want to listen to it ;). Thank you :)
Jan 3, 2011 7:27 PM
Answers · 11
3
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January 3, 2011
2
He's singing about "time" (singular noun).
January 3, 2011
1
It's possible to use the singular form if the person is talking about the amount as one single thing. This is common with money, time, and distance. Five hundred dollars is a lot to spend on a pair of shoes. Twenty years have passed since we last met. Twenty-five miles was too much for many of the runners.
January 3, 2011
1
Songwriters in general take liberties with grammar.
January 3, 2011
1
When referring to a grouping, you can use the singular. In this song, the target of the verb is seven, not years. This can be a single amount, seven, and can use a singular verb. Measurements are usually referred to as a total group, and use the singular. This is rarely important except when the group has properties that the single units do not. Example: 7 is the correct amount. - The correct amount is 7. Any single unit would be incorrect. 7 are the correct amount. - Of the amounts, 7 of them are the correct amount. There may be other amounts which are not the correct size or number. The (American) football field is 100 yards long. Ten yards is a first down. - Any 10 yards together make a first down. This is correct. Ten yards are a first down. - 10 of the 100 yards are each a first down. The other 90 are not. This is not correct. So in this song, the author could have used either "has" or "have".
January 3, 2011
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