singular or plural

[VIPIN]

When I write "Two, three and four put together" is it singular or plural? In other words, do I write "Two, three and four put together is" or "Two, three and four put together are"?

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by VIPIN

When I write "Two, three and four put together" is it singular or plural? In other words, do I write "Two, three and four put together is" or "Two, three and four put together are"?

Hi VIPIN,

It depends what you are trying to say, for example;

"Two, three and four put together are numbers in a series".

"Two, three and four put to together is a series of numbers".

or indeed;

"Two, three and four put together in series make 234".

[rj1948]

Two,three and four put together is...correct.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

Hi VIPIN,

It depends what you are trying to say, for example;

"Two, three and four put together are numbers in a series".

"Two, three and four put to together is a series of numbers".

or indeed;

"Two, three and four put together in series make 234".

I think rj1948 was considering a fourth possible meaning: 'The sum of 2, 3 and 4 is 9' or - in other words - the value of the expression "2 + 3 + 4" is 9. If you make the sentence have a singular subject the answer to your question is obvious:

Originally Posted by rj1948

Two,three and four put together is...correct.

However, a lot of native speakers would say either - particularly very young children who chant "2 and 3 make 5". And with the increasing use of calculators in schools (, but that's another story ) people are reaching adulthood with an infantile grasp of elementary maths.

b

[rj1948]

Thanks BobK. I got it.

[VIPIN]

May I now slightly modify the question to make it clearer.
Which of the following two is right?
"India, Russia and China put together produce"
or
"India, Russia and China put together produces"

[Soup]

Hi VIPIN

1. India, Russia and China put together produce...
2. India, Russia and China put together produces...

These three countries produce...
As a group they produce...
Put together, they produce...