Subject verb agreement question regarding "seem/seems"

Question

Sentence: "Two weeks seems to be the virus's maximum incubation period."

What is the subject of the sentence? I can't figure out if it's the virus or the incubation period. Also, generally, when you have a plural noun, you're supposed to use "seem" (eg. Those cats seem upset) as opposed to "seems" when you have a singular noun (eg. That cat seems upset), but here, "seems" works alongside "two weeks". Why?

Thank you.

Two weeks is indeed a plural noun phrase, but it refers to one continuous period of time, and that is what the virus's maximum incubation period (a singular noun phrase) is. So the subject two weeks should be considered and marked as singular. Would you say Twenty-three years are his age? — John Lawler, Jan 22 '20 at 15:48
Thank you, John.
I have an additional question, if you don't mind.

"The virus's maximum incubation period is two weeks."

Would the subject of this sentence also be "two weeks"? — Big V, Jan 22 '20 at 16:17
See also Three inches of-snow is/are expected, thirty dollars is/are, Are monetary values plural, singular or plural verb after units of measure ... — Edwin Ashworth, Jan 22 '20 at 19:07
Should we use IS or Are with 'Fifty meters (is, are) the length of this pool.' etc ? ... — Edwin Ashworth, Jan 22 '20 at 19:15
@BigV: In The virus's maximum incubation period is two weeks, the subject is The virus's maximum incubation period. The subject comes first in English. — John Lawler, Jan 22 '20 at 21:17

Subject verb agreement question regarding "seem/seems"

0 Answers0