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Wed 22 Jun, 2016 11:06 pm
Here comes the bride and bridegroom.
Here comes John and Jones.
Should the verb be "come" in both sentences? Or is either verb correct?
Thanks.
Come should used in both. Comes is singular and is used for one thing or person, and come is plural and is used for more than one thing.
@tanguatlay,
Tes is right of course but in certain contexts John and Jones might be considered a unit
@dalehileman,
Quote:in certain contexts John and Jones might be considered a unit
Please provide at least one example.
@Tes yeux noirs,
Bill and Barnum's of course, Tes, constitutes the majority opinion, but look out, here comes John and Jones
On tech grounds I suppose you could insist on the pos'pos'
@dalehileman,
dalehileman wrote:
Bill and Barnum's of course, Tes, constitutes the majority opinion, but look out, here comes John and Jones
On tech grounds I suppose you could insist on the pos'pos'
Hi Tes yeux noirs, do you agree? Thanks.
There are phrases which look like plural subjects, but which are in fact singular - e.g. names of businesses - Barnum and Bailey (a circus), names of food dishes e.g. baked beans, but two people or things are plural when explicitly named or mentioned separately - the bride and groom, the mother and father, the brother and sister, John and James, the cat and the dog.
@Tes yeux noirs,
Thanks, Tes yeux noirs and Dalehileman.
@Tes yeux noirs,
I've asked dahl to stop posting on grammar threads. His answers are invariably confusing if not plain wrong. He does far more harm than good. If one does not speak English as a first language they may actually believe his ill informed nonsense.
@tanguatlay,
Tes yeux noirs knows what he's talking about. Listen to him, pay no notice to dahl or select my tutor, neither of them knows what they're talking about. If they answer a question correctly it's more by luck than judgement.
@Tes yeux noirs,
When it comes to there/here/where, in informal speech and writing, English native speakers at all levels often use a singular verb with a plural referent.
Here's your keys. // Where's your mom and dad? // There's two things I want to discuss.
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