Pronoun Issues

[RonPurewal]

1/
it is possible for "x and y" to be singular, if "x and y" is regarded as a single unit.
e.g., rhythm and blues ("R&B") is the name of a popular style of american music. this is one type of music--not two--so one would write Rhythm and blues is especially popular in the South.

most importantly, though-- if this sort of thing ever happens, there will be solid proof in the sentence.
e.g., in OG 13th/2015 problem #85, "owning and living" is the subject of "is", so you know that it's singular and can therefore be represented by "it".


2/
yes.

[celiaY852]

Hi，Ron

I got two issues here

1. X and Y joint by "and" should be viewed as “compounded noun”
I am not sure whether this compounded noun can be seen as only “plural” （or "singular“ is fine？）

2. in choice E

is is wrong for illogical meaning？
If we interpreted it literally → the breakup was to be companies （illogical）

Thank you！

same doubt here.

Can you further clarify this one, Ron?

Thank you!

Hi Ron, I have the same question. Would you please explain?

[RonPurewal]

read the post directly above yours.

(maybe you didn't realize there was another page in the thread. please double-check that sort of thing before posting.)

[ChloeHe]

Hi dear instructors,

I feel hard to understand the structure of correct answer C. If I phrase it into below one:

A committee called for the breakup of... , into...

Then does "into two companies and one provider" modify "breakup"?
Otherwise, "breakup into ..." is a justified idiom for us to remember?

So much appreciate your reply!

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

It's both an idiom and a modifier. The word "breakup" is followed by two modifiers, one beginning with "of" and one with "into". One small change to what you wrote:

A committee called for the breakup of... into... [there's no comma before into; in the sentence the comma belongs to "the largest telephone company in the world" modifier]

Don't worry too much about the technical terms, but you should know that this is a common (and correct) combination of words.