subject

mwert · Post by **mwert** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 10:21 am

The management and staff wish you Happy Christmas.
Is the above 3 rd person singular subject hence -wishes ?
what is the rule of 2/3 words subject??

Thanks a lot
Michelle

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 7:45 pm

Management and staff are boht collective nouns and os can take the singular or plural depending on whether you see them as a unit or a collection of individuals.

However here you have two nouns joined by and so you have a plural.

The general rule for two singular nouns is:
A and B Plural
A or B Singular
A nor B Singular or Plural.

wjserson · Post by **wjserson** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 6:26 pm

Exactly,

'Stephen (hates) Eddie Murhpy movies.'

'Roger (hates) Eddie Murphy movies.'

'Stephen and Roger (hate) Eddie Murphy movies.'

which would be conjugated the same way as :

'They (hate) Eddie Murphy movies.'

not

*'Stephen and Rogers (hates) Eddie Murphy movies.' or

*'They (hates) Eddie Murphy movies.'

WJ

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:36 am

I would not object too strongly to "the management and staff wishes
you ........"

When two subjects joined by 'and' are not disparate entities as they are in a case like 'Stephen and Roger', but are just components of a greater whole (here a corporation) then it is not unreasonable to use the singular.

Harzer

mwert · Post by **mwert** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 7:25 pm

I think you understood what I meant.Thanks Harzer.

Harzer · Post by **Harzer** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 8:56 am

Nichts zu danken!