Six and seven is\are thirteen?

What you need to know is there's an understood but unspoken phrase : "the sum of" six plus seven is thirteen.

The sum is considered a singular subject.

Gud ansa.

It is not unknown for the result of an addition to be treated as plural -

The song "Inchworm" originally performed by Danny Kaye and many others:

Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two

I would say it:

"Six plus seven is thirteen."

"Six and seven are thirteen."

(USA/Texas resident)

I was schooled in Britain and I would say the same.

Anything else would sound queer, and funny to my ear.

once again an example of British English and American English.

Not really; the Texan guy (Drewdad) says it the same as I do. Texas is either in, or near (depending on your point of view) the United States.

We also might say "six and seven make thirteen".

Texans speak English..,.Bwahahah. Obviously you've never been there.

I'm calling my grammar expert (teacher of American English 35 yrs) now and the answer is forthcoming:

The question is presented as the correctness of sentence "six and seven is/are thirteen:

According to my teacher expert: There are special rules when you are talking about the ONE result of the numbers the answer is IS.

six and seven is thirteen


And we are not talking about the correct grammar of sentence six plus seven...etc. or any other.

I've been to Dallas and stood on the grassy knoll.

me too

I would say it:

"Six plus seven is thirteen."

"Six and seven are thirteen."
Drewdad,

Me too.

Oh dear, I've forgotten how to quote...or has the procedure changed?

Please scroll back and read my previous post. An English teacher of 35 yrs provided the correct answer. Are you saying she's wrong? What are you qualifications? Or are you just guessing?

What's your hangup with authority, man?

Contrex says:



Umm. It wasn't by any chance an afternoon in late November, 1963, was it?

I'd be inclined to say either one is acceptable, depending on whether you are exphasizing more the two whatever they're called--addends, maybe? or the sum. And if there is no more emphasis on one than the other, use either one.

What hang up? I simply went to a known expert resource to get an answer that was asked. Isn't that the purpose? I am not the expert so I sought one out and got the answer. This is not about offering of an opinion because someone needed the factual answer.

You seem to perceive some sort of tone but it wasn't intended.

All of these so-called "rules" are merely ways of explaining what people already do.

My Kindergartener is learning spelling and reading rules, and they just make me laugh, because the rules are so absurd. (Thank God I don't have to teach it.)

They have little songs and rhymes. All the different ways to spell the sound "-er". "O R says 'er' if there's a double-u in front like word or work!" "Er the er of early." "Er the er of her." "Er the er of birth."

All this to say... regardless of what your expert says, people will talk the way they talk. Which is why I posted that I say such-and-such and I live in such-and-such a place.

Not that rules aren't good for learning the language; people need a framework on which to hang things. But getting too rigidly attached to the rules, and seeking out "experts" on how to talk is kinda silly, IMO.

Lola is telling you what she would say.

She is not guessing about her own use.

~~~~

Have a seat. Get a grip.