5.133 noun group adjuncts

Note that with the verbs 'last', 'wait', and 'stay', which have duration as part of their meaning, the adjunct of duration can be a noun group instead of a prepositional phrase with 'for'.

• The campaign lasts four weeks at most.
• His speech lasted for exactly 14 and a half minutes.
• 'Wait a minute,' the voice said.
• He stayed a month, five weeks, six weeks.

The verbs 'take' and 'spend' can also indicate duration but the adjunct of duration can only be a noun group.

• It took me a month to lose that feeling of being a spectator.
• What once took a century now took only ten months.
• He spent five minutes washing and shaving.