was v. were with plural subjects that sound singular
up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
What is correct:
A man and his cars were serious business.
OR
A man and his cars was serious business.
What is correct:
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
OR
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs was enough to cool the bear.
verb-agreement be
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
What is correct:
A man and his cars were serious business.
OR
A man and his cars was serious business.
What is correct:
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
OR
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs was enough to cool the bear.
verb-agreement be
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
D'you not think that Question belongs rather to English Language Learners?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
I have no idea.
– user237736
8 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
What is correct:
A man and his cars were serious business.
OR
A man and his cars was serious business.
What is correct:
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
OR
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs was enough to cool the bear.
verb-agreement be
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
What is correct:
A man and his cars were serious business.
OR
A man and his cars was serious business.
What is correct:
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
OR
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs was enough to cool the bear.
verb-agreement be
verb-agreement be
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
asked Dec 16 at 1:15
user237736
1042
1042
D'you not think that Question belongs rather to English Language Learners?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
I have no idea.
– user237736
8 hours ago
add a comment |
D'you not think that Question belongs rather to English Language Learners?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
I have no idea.
– user237736
8 hours ago
D'you not think that Question belongs rather to English Language Learners?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
D'you not think that Question belongs rather to English Language Learners?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
I have no idea.
– user237736
8 hours ago
I have no idea.
– user237736
8 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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up vote
-1
down vote
A man and his cars were serious business.
Even though it might sound singular, cars is still plural.
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
which is correct for the same reason.
These sentences are all confirmed as correct by Grammarly Premium. The was-were rules are usually as is.
Plural -- Were.
Singular-- Was.
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
|
show 6 more comments
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
-1
down vote
A man and his cars were serious business.
Even though it might sound singular, cars is still plural.
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
which is correct for the same reason.
These sentences are all confirmed as correct by Grammarly Premium. The was-were rules are usually as is.
Plural -- Were.
Singular-- Was.
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
|
show 6 more comments
up vote
-1
down vote
A man and his cars were serious business.
Even though it might sound singular, cars is still plural.
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
which is correct for the same reason.
These sentences are all confirmed as correct by Grammarly Premium. The was-were rules are usually as is.
Plural -- Were.
Singular-- Was.
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
|
show 6 more comments
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
A man and his cars were serious business.
Even though it might sound singular, cars is still plural.
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
which is correct for the same reason.
These sentences are all confirmed as correct by Grammarly Premium. The was-were rules are usually as is.
Plural -- Were.
Singular-- Was.
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A man and his cars were serious business.
Even though it might sound singular, cars is still plural.
John's car, bodyguards, and wife's legs were enough to cool the bear.
which is correct for the same reason.
These sentences are all confirmed as correct by Grammarly Premium. The was-were rules are usually as is.
Plural -- Were.
Singular-- Was.
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Dec 16 at 15:35
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
answered Dec 16 at 11:37
Lordology
3239
3239
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Lordology is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
|
show 6 more comments
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
I said PREMIUM!
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Can you undo that -1 please! I edited the set in stone bit. Also - meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9953/…
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 15:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Okay. Before Peter changed his stance, he made a good point with his example. If this is correct: Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish, then why isn't this correct: A man and his cars is serious business. ???
– user237736
Dec 16 at 16:35
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Because 'Spaghetti and meatballs' (presuming they are served as a dish) are a group (essentially one thing). Some more examples:
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:43
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
Chicken and rice is my favorite dish. If they were separate (i.e. served separately), it would be: Chicken and rice are my favorite dishes
– Lordology
Dec 16 at 16:50
|
show 6 more comments
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D'you not think that Question belongs rather to English Language Learners?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
I have no idea.
– user237736
8 hours ago