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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Singular or plural?
When two nouns are connected with "or," should they be considered singular or plural?
e.g.
Eating or smoking inside the train IS prohibited.
or
Eating or smoking inside the train ARE prohibited.
What about "and/or" then? (e.g. Eating and/or smoking inside the train IS/ARE prohibited.)
Thanks for your help in advance!
e.g.
Eating or smoking inside the train IS prohibited.
or
Eating or smoking inside the train ARE prohibited.
What about "and/or" then? (e.g. Eating and/or smoking inside the train IS/ARE prohibited.)
Thanks for your help in advance!
Top answer
Anonymous singular or plural? Make the agreement with whatever is closest to the verb. In your sentence 'smoking' is singular, so 'is'.
- Anonymous singular or plural?
- Make the agreement with whatever is closest to the verb.
- In your sentence 'smoking' is singular, so 'is'.
- CJ
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6 Answers
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Anonymoussingular or plural?Make the agreement with whatever is closest to the verb.
In your sentence 'smoking' is singular, so 'is'.
CJ
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I would say the following.
Eating and smoking inside the train are (both) prohibited.
Eating and smoking inside the train are (both) prohibited.
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Thanks, but I thought that means "eating while you're smoking inside the train is prohibited."
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AnonymousI thought that means "eating while you're smoking inside the train is prohibited."An extremely unlikely scenario. It's rare to see someone both smoking and eating at the same time.
In fact, combinations like "Eating or smoking is ..." are also rare.
CJ
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It could, although most people would understand what was intended.
canadian45's "both" would remove the ambiguity.
canadian45's "both" would remove the ambiguity.
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