is vs are

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tan Elaine

Key Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
In order to grow and move forward, support and cooperation from every person in the company is/are essential.

I am not sure which verb to use because it appears that 'support and cooperation' can be viewed as singular. Hence, my guess is 'was' should be used. Am I correct?

Thanks.
 

Tan Elaine

Key Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
Could someone please help? Many thanks.
 

philo2009

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
Personally, I would prefer the plural as the two concepts are clearly distinct, in that one could theoretically have the one (support) without the other (cooperation).

However, I do not doubt that most natives would happily settle for the singular here.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Personally, I would prefer the plural as the two concepts are clearly distinct, in that one could theoretically have the one (support) without the other (cooperation).
That's my view.

However, I do not doubt that most natives would happily settle for the singular here.
I wasn't sure about that, which is why I did not respond to the question originally. I think you are probably right.
5
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top