0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

two and two make/makes four . which one is correct and why
  

Top answer

Singular and plural are both correct. The singular form is also used because "two and two" is an arithmetic formula. The verb agreement in that case is with the formula as a single entity.

  • Singular and plural are both correct.
  • The singular form is also used because "two and two" is an arithmetic formula.
  • The verb agreement in that case is with the formula as a single entity.
  • Two and two makes four.
  • Two plus two is four.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
Singular and plural are both correct.

The singular form is also used because "two and two" is an arithmetic formula. The verb agreement in that case is with the formula as a single entity.

Two and two makes four.
Two plus two is four.
Four times four divided by two is eight.

Google indicates that the plural form occurs more often

0
Two and two is two two's, which is plural, which takes the plural verb make. You can make a case that "two and two" is a single thing, namely a problem in mathematics. But the singular verb is hardly ever used in this case.

People are about equally split on make or makes for the the same statement with "two plus two."
0
Two and two makes four is correct .
0
I believe this one.

Two and two make four.

Tom
0
Two and two makes four

Related Questions