Agreement of the verb with the subject is a basic understanding while making any sentence. Students generally know this basic rule of grammar, but in this chapter, I am going to discuss one exception, which is worthwhile to learn it.
a) If two subjects combined denotes one idea, we use the verb which may be the Singular; as,
- Thrill and safety goes hand in hand with this car.
- The long and the short of the matter is this proposal may not have any positive fruition.
- Slow and steady wins the race. That’s what we were taught by the moral story of the hare and the tortoise.
- Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
- The horse and carriage is at the door now.
- Bread and butter is wholesome. Bread and butter is all she takes for breakfast.
- Subhas Chandra Bose, the great nationalist and leader, is no more with us.
- Love and hate is a part of human behavior.
- Rice and curry is my favorite dish for sure.
- The law and order in town is under control now.
- Stay away from this parliamentarian. His power and influence is on the rise.
b) In some cases, two nouns are joined by words/phrases, such as with, besides, as well as, together with, no less than. It also expresses one idea; as,
- Gold, as well as silver, is a precious metal.
- The rich as well as the poor takes part in this exercise.
- No one, besides him, knows how to deal with such situations.
- Mark my words; your father, not you, has created this gigantic empire of wealth.
- Sheila, together with other friends of mine, is working on this project at the moment.