Why "two-element Boolean algebra" not "two-elements Boolean algebra"? The number of elements (two) is plural, but the word "element" is singular. This looks like a discrepancy for me.
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It is an adjective. Adjectives in English have no plural forms. – RegDwigнt Mar 15 '16 at 15:48
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No, this is correct English. Other examples:
- two-time loser
- three-piece suit
- four-wheel drive
- Five Man Electrical Band
- six-string guitar
- Seven Nation Army
When a number and a noun are joined together as a hyphenated adjective, the noun is in the singular and not plural.
But if its an adjective and a noun, the noun can be plural if the context requires it:
- the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics
- broken-windows policing
It might not make sense, but that's the way it is.
PS, the hyphen itself may be optional, especially with the adjective+noun versions. I think it is less often omitted with the number+noun versions.
ghostarbeiter
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It's fairly widespread in languages that when a noun is incorporated into a complex phrase, it loses any inflections. – Colin Fine Mar 15 '16 at 15:16