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Bunyard Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Question about Verb and Subject Agreement

Some managers think that grammar and punctuation (doesn't, don't) matter.

I've been thinking about this question for a few hours now. It's driving me insane. Since the subject "managers" is plural, doesn't the verb need to be "don't"?

Thank you ahead of time for your help,
Ben
  

Top answer

Welcome to the forums. This is a great place to learn. don't is the form you want, but it has nothing to do with plurality of "managers": "grammar and punctuation" is a compound subject, thus requiring the form.

— Philip

  • Welcome to the forums.
  • This is a great place to learn.
  • don't is the form you want, but it has nothing to do with plurality of "managers": "grammar and punctuation" is a compound subject, thus requiring the form.
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3 Answers
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Welcome to the forums. This is a great place to learn.
don't is the form you want, but it has nothing to do with plurality of "managers": "grammar and punctuation" is a compound subject, thus requiring the form.
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Where can I find information about compound subjects and their agreement with verbs? I thought that the verb "don't" goes with plural subjects and "doesn't" with singular. But I think that is only with 3rd person subjects. I think this is a 3rd person subject. If a compound subject has both singular words, does it not have a singular verb agreement?
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bunyardIf a compound subject has both singular words, does it not have a singular verb agreement?
No. When you connect one thing to another thing, you've got more than one thing -- a plural.

So it's

The dog and the cat don't play well together.

Not:

*The dog and
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