living and working abroad are popular ( is popular?)

Status
Not open for further replies.

angelene001

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
I've got a problem with the sentence above.
Which version is correct?
1. Living and working abroad are popular.
(living= one thing, working=one thing, together they give two thigns, so "are")
2. Living and working abroad is very popular.
(living and working=as a one thing, so "is")
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
There's no problem. Both are possible.
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
As the two go together, I would be more likely to use the singular, though both are possible- you can live abroad without working, but it's harder to work abroad without living there.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland

angelene001

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
As the two go together, I would be more likely to use the singular, though both are possible- you can live abroad without working, but it's harder to work abroad without living there.

I understand.
I'm wondering, though, if a teacher has a right to mark "are" as an error. Or maybe they can only suggest that "is" would be better.
I'm supposed to write an essay about 'living and working abroad'.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
I'm wondering, though, if a teacher has a right to mark "are" as an error.
Teachers should not mark it wrong. It's perfectly acceptable in most contexts.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top