By Singular verbs, Compound subjects

I can only tell you my experiences as a parent. My older daugher is 10. This year, she brought home papers in which she had to identify things like the simple subject, the complete subject, the simple predicate, the complete predicate, etc. She also had exercises last year on whether something...

Before you go too far, Mr. P, would you care to comment on the side issues that has come up? The use of a singular verb when there is a compound subject of gerunds or abstract nouns?

If the author views them as one set, then s/he will use is, yes.However, whether it is accepted by the reader (who may be the essay teacher) is another matter. Fundamentally, all 'rules' of the language (as here in the case of a compound subject) depend on an understanding and agreement between...

The more I think about it, Sharad, the more I want to conclude that, 'Hydrogen and oxygen is needed to make water' is also correct--perhaps even preferable in the right context. Thank you for the question. I invite master Mister Micawber to stay joined.

Thanks Mister Micawber and davkett.. I think i need some time to get used to this usage..For I learnt a bit grammar, i sometimes start wondering if such usages are correct in first place.. Unfortunately, my limited grammar exposure often leaves me confused ..

Hi MrM, I can see the difference you've pointed out on the 'colleague and friend' example, but I'm wondering why such an example cannot be called a compound subject. Certainly 'colleague' and 'friend' don't refer to two people here, but they do refer to two separate identities (concepts,...

The short answer is 'yes', Sharad. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack. The salt and pepper is right next to you, fathead. In your example 'his colleague and friend', and friend is not part of a compound subject, but has another grammatical name/function that slips my mind at...

A relevant question in this case. The answer: Hydrogen and oxygen are needed to make water. The reason: hydrogen and oxygen are separate elements and can be combined differently to make other compounds. Hydrogen and oxygen make water only when combined as H20. The chemical elements of...

you say - hydrogen and oxygen are needed yo make water. you don't say - hydrogen and oxgen are needed to is needed to make water

Hi Sharad, The whole idea behind a compound subject is that the various elements of the compound are bound together as a single grammatical entity, just like Hydrogen and Oxygen combine to make water.