Singular vs Plural

Question

What I am going to give you is an apple and an orange.

An apple and an orrange is what I am going to give you.

Can you please explain why we use the singular verb is here and not the plural are?

Thank you

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Generally, a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, there are exceptions. For example:

"Five policemen are at the door and want to see you." Plural subject, plural verb. You can't use "is" here.

However:

A: "Check who's (who is) banging on the door." B: "It's (it is) five policeman. They want to talk to you." Here, "is," a singular verb is used, even though there are five policemen at the door. You cannot use "are" here. The reason is that the initial sentence has the phrase "who is," which is singular, and this singularness propagates over to the following sentence, and thus you have "it is."

About the apple and orange example. You say:

"An apple and an orange are good to eat." You can't say "is" here.

"An apple and an orange are both fruits." You can't say "is" here.

"What are 2 examples of fruits?" "An apple and an orange are 2 examples of fruits." You can't say "is" in either sentence.

However, if someone asks, "What are you going to give me?", and you answer with a sentence beginning with the word "what", then you have to say, "What I'm going to give you is an apple and an orange." The reason is that the word "what", without qualification (as in the previous example, where you have the phrase "2 examples"), is singular in nature, and this singularness propagates over to the reply, and so the verb is singular.

English 1b3 · Answer

Hmm, interesting. I'm suprised this is the answer to be honest. I thought it may have been an oversight on my part, a simple error in my subject verb classification. Have you a link to which I can refer?

Thanks.

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