Avoiding and fxing fragments isn’t hard.

[invisible_void]

Hi.
This is my first question here. I don't understand the subject and verb of this sentence, "Avoiding and fixing fragments isn’t hard." Shouldn't it be "Avoiding and fixing fragments aren’t hard."? The sentence is from http://books.google.co.th/books?id=ldrUMXdnS5EC&printsec=
frontcover&hl=en&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q =&f=false .

Thank you,

[The French]

Hello,

I am not a teacher, but I understand why you ask this question. I give you one example:

It is not hard to fix fragments.

What do you think now?

Have a nice day.

[invisible_void]

Hello,

I am not a teacher, but I understand why you ask this question. I give you one example:

It is not hard to fix fragments.

What do you think now?

Have a nice day.

Thank you every much for your response.
According to your sentence, "It is not hard to avoid and fix fragments" is equivalent to "Avoiding and fixing fragments is not hard",right?

But I still don't get it.
Please explain more.

[Raymott]

Hi.
This is my first question here. I don't understand the subject and verb of this sentence, "Avoiding and fixing fragments isn’t hard." Shouldn't it be "Avoiding and fixing fragments aren’t hard."? The sentence is from http://books.google.co.th/books?id=ldrUMXdnS5EC&printsec=
frontcover&hl=en&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q =&f=false .

Thank you,

"Avoiding and fixing fragments" is being referred to as one skill or activity. The skill/activity isn't hard. This is quite common in English.
If the noun was different, you'd generally need to use 'are'. Eg. Avoiding mistakes and fixing sentence fragments are not hard. Even so, you might find 'is' used in sentences like this, if it's still considered one activity.

Here are some correct sentences:
Chemistry and Physics are hard. (These are two subjects).
English Language and Literature is hard. (This is one subject).
Stripping and painting a house is fun. (Conceptualised as one activity)
Washing the dishes and vacuuming are not fun. (Two activities).
Washing the dog and feeding the cat are my chores.
Washing and feeding the elephants is my job.

[invisible_void]

"Avoiding and fixing fragments" is being referred to as one skill or activity. The skill/activity isn't hard. This is quite common in English.
If the noun was different, you'd generally need to use 'are'. Eg. Avoiding mistakes and fixing sentence fragments are not hard. Even so, you might find 'is' used in sentences like this, if it's still considered one activity.

Here are some correct sentences:
Chemistry and Physics are hard. (These are two subjects).
English Language and Literature is hard. (This is one subject).
Stripping and painting a house is fun. (Conceptualised as one activity)
Washing the dishes and vacuuming are not fun. (Two activities).
Washing the dog and feeding the cat are my chores.
Washing and feeding the elephants is my job.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.
You saved my life.