Subject Verb Agreement/Rule no. 2/Exception #subjectverbagreement #subverbagreement #svarules

Summary

This video explains the rule of subject-verb agreement in English, focusing on the special case of compound nouns. When two items from the same family are joined by 'and' (like 'bread and butter'), they are treated as singular, and the verb takes the singular form 'is.' The video contrasts this with non-family pairs, such as 'bacon and eggs,' where the plural verb 'are' is used. The exception to the general rule is emphasized through examples, helping viewers understand how to correctly apply subject-verb agreement with compound nouns in everyday language.

Takeaways

• 😀 Compound nouns joined by 'and' can take the singular verb 'is' when the items belong to the same family.
• 😀 The rule of subject-verb agreement generally states that two subjects joined by 'and' take the plural verb 'are', but there is an exception.
• 😀 'Bread and butter' is an example of a compound noun where the items are from the same family, so it takes 'is' as the verb.
• 😀 The exception to the subject-verb rule applies when the two nouns are from the same family, like 'bread and butter' or 'bacon and eggs'.
• 😀 When two different things are joined by 'and', such as 'mobile and specs', they do not belong to the same family and take the plural verb 'are'.
• 😀 The rule about subject-verb agreement is important for understanding how English works, but it has exceptions like the compound noun rule.
• 😀 'Bread and butter' is commonly considered a stable breakfast in English culture, representing a simple, traditional meal.
• 😀 In contrast to 'bread and butter', 'bacon and eggs' is considered a typical American breakfast, following a similar rule of compound nouns.
• 😀 Viewers and subscribers are encouraged to share more examples of compound nouns with 'and' to deepen understanding of this rule.
• 😀 This lesson highlights a specific aspect of English grammar that can be tricky, but it's explained clearly with real-life examples like breakfast foods.

Q & A

What is the general rule for subject-verb agreement when two subjects are joined by 'and'?

The general rule is that when two subjects are joined by 'and,' the verb should be plural.

Why is the sentence 'Bread and butter is my stable breakfast' an exception to the general rule?

It is an exception because 'bread' and 'butter' are considered to belong to the same family as compound nouns, so the singular verb 'is' is used instead of 'are.'

What does it mean for two nouns to belong to the same family in the context of subject-verb agreement?

Two nouns belong to the same family when they are commonly paired together or represent a typical combination, like 'bread and butter' or 'bacon and eggs.'

Can you give an example of two nouns that belong to different families and the verb agreement rule for them?

An example is 'mobile and specs.' Since they belong to different families, the verb used would be plural: 'mobile and specs are my essentials.'

What is a compound noun, and how does it affect subject-verb agreement?

A compound noun is made up of two nouns that are commonly paired together. When these nouns are joined by 'and,' they are treated as a singular entity and require a singular verb.

Is 'bacon and eggs' an example of a compound noun with singular subject-verb agreement?

Yes, 'bacon and eggs' is a compound noun where the items are considered part of the same family, so the verb 'is' is used: 'Bacon and eggs is a popular breakfast.'

Why don't we say 'bacon and eggs are American breakfast'?

We don't say 'are' because 'bacon and eggs' are considered part of the same family of nouns in this context, so the correct verb is 'is.'

What happens when two items from the same family are joined by 'and' but the rule does not apply?

In cases where two items from the same family do not form a compound noun or are not considered a typical pairing, the plural verb 'are' should be used.

How do we determine whether two nouns are from the same family in terms of subject-verb agreement?

We determine if two nouns belong to the same family by considering whether they are commonly paired together to represent a single concept or item, like 'bread and butter' or 'coffee and cake.'

Can you provide another example of a pair of nouns that belong to the same family and use singular subject-verb agreement?

Yes, an example would be 'peanut butter and jelly.' Since they are typically paired together as a single concept, the correct verb would be 'is': 'Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack.'