Year old vs. Year-old
In this lesson, we're gonna discuss the differences and similarities between these two words. Interested in learning more? Well, come on.
What Is Their Main Difference?
Both Indicate the age. However, 'year old' simply describes someone's age, whereas, 'year-old' comes when it functions as an adjective.
Differences
We use 'year old' when we are mainly describing someone's age, whereas, 'year-old' comes when it functions as an adjective. Look at the examples below:
How can a 17
Hello. I'm Sara. I'm 55
Similarities
Both point out someone's age. Check out the examples below:
You're five
A 20
Are They Interchangeable?
Since they have different grammatical functions, if we use them interchangeably, our sentence will be incorrect. Compare:
✓ It seems that a 15
X It seems that a 15