distances vs distance

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shone - 25 Sep 2004 22:41 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have a question to you.

when I read English book, sometimes distance is in the singular or
plural form.

It is hard to know what kind of situation I should use distance as
singular or as plural.

If anyone know, please let me know.

Thanks,

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John Ings - 25 Sep 2004 23:26 GMT

>when I read English book, sometimes distance is in the singular or
>plural form.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>If anyone know, please let me know.

Singular when you are referring to a specific distance, from here to
there.

"From here to town is too great a distance to walk in that length of
time."

"I can't see the TV clearly at that distance."

Use the plural when you mean any one of several possible distances.

"I'm nearsighted. I can't see things clearly at such distances."

"The invention of the automobile resulted in much greater convenience
when traveling great distances."

But perhaps what's confusing you is that the latter example could be
rephrased using the singular.

"The invention of the automobile resulted in much greater convenience
when traveling a great distance."

Both are correct, though there may be minor nuances of meaning in the
choice. Don't sweat it.

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / September 2004

distances vs distance