English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
HANDLING TIME, MONEY AND DISTANCE
Ten yards are enough for us (nonstandard).
Ten yards is enough for us (standard).
Note: Nouns that represent time, distance, money and measurement take the singular verb even when the noun is pluralised. Other examples are:
Twenty minutes was spent on the introduction (not, were)
Four weeks is good enough to do the work (not, are).
Twenty million dollars has been spent (not, have).
GAB
