student asking question

When should I use "feet" and when should I use "foot"? Both are about measure, right?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

This is a great question! The answer is a bit complicated. Remember that "feet" and "foot" are only used as units of measurement in America, all other countries use the metric system. There are some rules you can keep in mind when deciding whether to use foot or feet. The rule is to use the singular form (foot) when talking about a person’s height. However, if a person’s height is an exact number of feet without inches, then use the plural form. Ex: I am five-foot-five. Ex: I am six feet (tall). Ex: My mother is only six-foot-two. If you are using it as an adjective to describe the height of something that isn't a person, use the singular form (foot), plus hyphenate the number. Ex: There is an 11-foot tall tree in my backyard. Ex: I have a two-foot-tall table I can sell you. If you are using it as a noun, use the plural form (feet). Ex: This tree is 11 feet tall. Ex: The Empire State Building is 1, 545 feet tall.

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