uk
enMultiple noun subjects (with or/and)
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Examples |
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and as clarification does not make the single subject plural |
My closest colleague and best friend has recently divorced her husband (My closest colleague is my best friend) = 1 person |
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Your style and even your handwriting needs to be improved. (clarification – even your handwriting) |
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and as a link to mean a whole inseparable thing, so called a compound noun makes the subject singular |
Bread and butter is all that is provided with the tea (this is a sandwich) |
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Fried eggs and ham was Sam’s favourite dish. |
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Breaking and entering is against the law. |
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The bed and breakfast was charming. |
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and as a link to mean separate things, which can function in independent sentences, makes the subject plural. |
The heat and humidity deter tourists from visiting the country during the summer. (heat is not humidity) = 2 things |
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Bread and butter are sold in the shop on the corner (2 separate things) |
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The baseball players and the manager were disappointed after losing the big game. |
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or between singular nouns makes the subject singular. |
The brush or the comb is in the bathroom drawer. |
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or with multiple nouns either singular or plural makes the verb agree with the nearest noun to it. |
The boy or his parents feed the parrot every day. Parents or their child feeds the parrot every day. |
Drills:
- Spaghetti and meatballs goes/go well with garlic bread.
- Peanut butter and jelly is /are available in the cafeteria.
- Meat and potatoes were/ was my grandfather’s favourite meal.
- My husband and best friend like/likes doing the dishes.
- My husband and his best friend fish/fishes every Saturday.
- Peanut butter and potatoes are/is my favourite foods.
- The dog and cats bother/ bothers me.
- James or John knows/know who is coming to the party.
- The dog or the kids was/were making a racket downstairs.
- The kids or the dog was/were making a racket downstairs.
- Two and two equals/equal four.
- Buns or bread are/ isnot quite expensive.
- Chocolate cakes or chocolate ice-cream are/is my favourite.
- Pencilsor pens is/are on the table.
- My pen-pal and bosom friend is/are arriving soon.
Answers:
- Spaghetti and meatballs goes well with garlic bread.
- Peanut butter and jelly is available in the cafeteria.
- Meat and potatoes was my grandfather’s favourite meal.
- My husband and best friend likes doing the dishes.
- My husband and his best friend fish every Saturday.
- Peanut butter and potatoes are my favourite foods.
- The dog and cats bother me.
- James or John knows who is coming to the party.
- The dog or the kids were making a racket downstairs.
- The kids or the dog was making a racket downstairs.
- Two and two equals four.
- Buns or bread is expensive.
- Chocolate cakes or chocolate ice-cream is my favourite.
- Pencilsor pens are on the table.
- My pen-pal and bosom friend is arriving soon.
