SC rule

by **GDay Sep2** Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:22 pm

Can you please advise the correct use of the below sentences? Thank you.

"An apple and an orange is / are in the bag"

"An apple or an orange is / are in the bag"

by RA Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:53 pm

and --> are
or --> is

by **RonPurewal** Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:14 am

"and" creates a compound noun, which is always plural unless the compound noun is a unit (like "fish and chips", "rhythm and blues", or "research and development", each of which is singular).

with "or", you go with whatever noun is CLOSEST TO THE VERB. if the noun closest to the verb is singular, then the verb is singular; if the noun closest to the verb is plural, then the verb is plural.