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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

The "boy and girls" rule

Hi, I don't remember what rule this is called but I rememembered my English teacher taught me some rule that goes like this:

Boy and girls ARE ...

Boys and girl IS ...

My question is :

-What's the name of this rule?

-All you boys and girls IS/ARE?

Thank you!

Dennis
  

Top answer

The 'rule' is that the verb agrees in number with the proximal (nearest) noun of the compound subject. But it doesn't work with 'and'-- it works with 'or': A boy or three girls are meeting me at the station. Three girls or a boy is meeting me at the station.

— Mister Micawber

  • The 'rule' is that the verb agrees in number with the proximal (nearest) noun of the compound subject.
  • But it doesn't work with 'and'-- it works with 'or': A boy or three girls are meeting me at the station.
  • Three girls or a boy is meeting me at the station.
  • But: Three girls and a boy are meeting me at the station.
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1 Answers
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The 'rule' is that the verb agrees in number with the proximal (nearest) noun of the compound subject. But it doesn't work with 'and'-- it works with 'or':

A boy or three girls are meeting me at the station.
Three girls or a boy is meeting me at the station.

But:

Three girls and a boy are meeting me at the station.

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