and

[chrysanthemum]

Macaroni and cheese is the regular chef's special on Fridays. Why do we use and and is?
Thanks

[virus99]

Not a teacher

Maybe because it is seen as one dish. This dish is the regular chef's special on Fridays.

But you are right, sometimes I don't understand it either, why native speakers use is when there are more items and should use the plural of be. I can't think of a particular example right now...

[TheParser]

Why do we use and and is?


NOT A TEACHER

(1) I agree with Member Virus: those two things go together as one dish:

Ham and eggs is a very popular American breakfast.

(2) I am sure that other people will soon give you many more examples.

(3) I think (repeat: think) that in such sentences, the word "and" is almost like the

word "with":

Macaroni with cheese is ....

Ham with eggs is ....

(4) I just remembered: I think that fish and chips is a popular dish among the
British people. (Remember: the British people use the word "chips" to refer to French fried potatoes; Americans use the word "chips" to refer to potato chips, which the British call "crisps"!)

[emsr2d2]

For info, in BrE we call it "macaroni cheese", without the "and". I think it's "macaroni and cheese" in AmE.

[Gillnetter]

Macaroni and cheese is the regular chef's special on Fridays. Why do we use and and is?
Thanks

On Friday there was macaroni and (plus) there was cheese. By combining these items, a new entity was made - now, this is macaroni and cheese. The new entity is a single thing even though it is composed of two items. Bob and Joe work together as a team on a project, this team is called the BJ team.

[SoothingDave]

Contrast:

Peanut butter and jelly are common items that are purchased in a supermarket.

Peanut butter and jelly is a favorite sandwich of the young (and young at heart).

In the first case it is talking about two items, so it is plural. In the second, the two have become one menu item, so it is regarded as singular.