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Subject verb agreement- The cup of tea and dessert come/comes with this set of meal. Which is correct?.?
The answer in the book is come. I think it should be comes because the subjects cup of tea and dessert joined by "and" refers to one thing (singular).
6 Answers
- Anonymous7 years agoFavorite Answer
Strangely, you can use both in this instance. It depends on whether you think the 'and' makes 'tea and dessert' a collective noun, or if you view them as separate things. No one would think you were wrong to say either, but personally I would go with 'come' as it is more strictly correct - the tea and dessert are two different things.
Hope this helps :)
- crrllpmLv 77 years ago
The cup of tea and the dessert are separate items and together are plural so you use the plural verb.
The cup of tea and dessert come with this meal.
You do not need to put in 'set of meal' as a meal is already a combination of food items. (ie it is already a set)
- BarbaraLv 77 years ago
I disagree with you. A native English speaker would say:
A beverage and dessert ARE included.
Tea and dessert ARE included.
And definitely:
The cup of tea and dessert [these two specific items] COME with the meal.
- Robert SLv 77 years ago
This is a quirk of English grammar.
We'd say: "The cup of tea comes with the meal."
Two objects make a plural entity.
Compare: "Two cups of tea come with the meal."
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