decades

IPA/ˈdek.eɪd/
KK[dˈɛkedz]IPA/ˈdek.eɪd/

decades — noun

  • decadessingular
  • decadesesplural

1. A span of ten full years, often named after the starting set of years (such as t

1.名詞A2
釋義

A span of ten full years, often named after the starting set of years (such as the 1990s or 2010s) and used especially when describing how things change or develop over a long stretch of time.

例句

Over the past two decades, Abigail's hometown has changed beyond recognition.

over the past + [number] decades (time frame)

Andrés spent three decades learning to make violins by hand.

for + [number] decades (duration)

同義詞
  • ten years

    Literal equivalent; less common in formal or journalistic writing ('over the past ten years' rather than 'over the past decade')

  • decennium

    Formal, technical term; very rare in everyday speech

文法句型

[number] + decades

decades + of + [noun]

over/during + the past/last/recent + [number] + decades

the + [year]s + decade

用法筆記

Often used in the plural (decades) to emphasise a long, indefinite length of time, as in 'for decades' or 'decades of work'. When referring to a specific ten-year span by its number, use 'the' before the year range: 'the 2000s', 'the 1960s decade'. A decade runs from a year ending in 0 to a year ending in 9 — for example, the 1990s decade covers 1990 through 1999, not 1991 through 2000.

常見錯誤

❌The 1990s decade ran from 1991 to 2000.
✅The 1990s decade ran from 1990 to 1999.
💡A decade starts on a year ending with 0 and ends on a year ending with 9.
❌They waited for decade.
✅They waited for a decade.
💡When using the singular form, include the article 'a' or 'one'.