Is this sentence wrong?

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Is the following sentence wrong, in grammar?
Intelligence and didiligence is the only way to success.
THANKS!
 

SoothingDave

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Not a teacher.

You need to use "are" with a compound subject. This and that ARE...

Also, I think the word you want is "diligence."
 

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Not a teacher.

You need to use "are" with a compound subject. This and that ARE...

Also, I think the word you want is "diligence."

THANKS! Yeah, it's a wrong spelling.

So, "this and that are THE ONLY WAY"... is right?
 

crazYgeeK

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I think your sentence should be "Intelligence and diligence is the only way to success"
What happens if using "are" here ?
For example:
"You and John are also my friend".
That means "You are my friend" and "John is my friend".
Applying to your sentence, if using "are", we have "Intelligence is the only way to success" and "Diligence is the only way to success".
Apparently there is a contradiction here.
I think we use "is" or "are" depending on the context.(in your sentence, it depends on "the only way").
E.g: "Intelligence and diligence are good characters you need to get success".
We need teachers to explain more. I'm only an English learner.
Thank you !
 

Barb_D

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The only way to succeed is with intelligence and diligence.
 

kfredson

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Is the following sentence wrong, in grammar?
Intelligence and didiligence is the only way to success.
THANKS!

"Intelligence and diligence are the only ways to success."

Most likely, though, you are considering "intelligence and diligence" as a unit, as in, "Bread and wine constitutes a fine meal."

This often leads to confusion, however, or simply to a sentence which "sounds wrong." Therefore I would concur with those who say that it is better to avoid such situations by rewriting the sentence.

Barb has done an admirable job with her version:
"The only way to succeed is with intelligence and diligence."


 

SoothingDave

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THANKS! Yeah, it's a wrong spelling.

So, "this and that are THE ONLY WAY"... is right?

Yes. Combined together the two are THE WAY. There aren't two ways; one with intelligence and one with diligence. There is one way, with the combination.
 
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