Singular or plural

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winnerhere: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 231; Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:45 am; Thanked: 5 times; Followed by:1 members

Singular or plural

by winnerhere » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:09 am

In the Northern Heights area, Italian and Slavic pride in their cultures give rise to a conflict with the leveling tendency of the Neighborhood Association, which favors unanimity of outlook.

"Italian and Slavic pride" - is this singular or a plural subjec. Anything connected by "and" conjunction usually is plural. What makes this singular?

Thanks,
Sai

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:09 am

cans: Legendary Member; Posts: 1309; Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:34 am; Location: India; Thanked: 310 times; Followed by:123 members; GMAT Score:750

by cans » Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:35 pm

Plural subject.
and its considered plural only.
why do u think its considered singular?

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winnerhere: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 231; Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:45 am; Thanked: 5 times; Followed by:1 members

by winnerhere » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:50 pm

Thanks

But ..Its among BEATTHEGMAT Practice questions and it is mentioned as a singular subject there

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cans: Legendary Member; Posts: 1309; Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:34 am; Location: India; Thanked: 310 times; Followed by:123 members; GMAT Score:750

by cans » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:03 pm

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GMATToppers: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 24; Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 4:53 am; Location: Bangalore; Thanked: 6 times; Followed by:1 members

by GMATToppers » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:41 pm

winnerhere wrote:In the Northern Heights area, Italian and Slavic pride in their cultures give rise to a conflict with the leveling tendency of the Neighborhood Association, which favors unanimity of outlook.

"Italian and Slavic pride" - is this singular or a plural subjec. Anything connected by "and" conjunction usually is plural. What makes this singular?

Thanks,
Sai

Hi,

Two nouns joined by "and" are considered plural subjects

For ex:

John and Charlie are attending the party.

The subject here is "John and Charlie"

If two or more adjectives are joined by "and", they do not constitute to a plural subject

For example :

A beautiful and intelligent participant wins the competition.

Though the words beautiful and intelligent are joined by "and", they are just adjectives and do not make subject.The subject in the above sentence is "participant"

Only nouns and noun phrases make subject of the sentence.

In the phrase "Italian and Slavic pride", "Italian" and "Slavic" are adjectives so they can not make the subject. The subject is "pride" which is singular.

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HSPA: Legendary Member; Posts: 1101; Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:26 am; Thanked: 47 times; Followed by:13 members; GMAT Score:640

by HSPA » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:48 pm

Dear Sai,

pride = group, Here there are two groups Italic and Slavic... shouldnt the question have 'prides'
Pride is a collective noun and will go with singular, when refering as a group = pride...

Is what you copied here without errors???

winnerhere wrote:In the Northern Heights area, Italian and Slavic pride in their cultures give rise to a conflict with the leveling tendency of the Neighborhood Association, which favors unanimity of outlook.

"Italian and Slavic pride" - is this singular or a plural subjec. Anything connected by "and" conjunction usually is plural. What makes this singular?

Thanks,
Sai

First take: 640 (50M, 27V) - RC needs 300% improvement
Second take: coming soon..
Regards,
HSPA.

Quote

cans: Legendary Member; Posts: 1309; Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:34 am; Location: India; Thanked: 310 times; Followed by:123 members; GMAT Score:750

by cans » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:59 pm

GMATToppers wrote:
In the phrase "Italian and Slavic pride", "Italian" and "Slavic" are adjectives so they can not make the subject. The subject is "pride" which is singular.

In the Northern Heights area, Italian and Slavic pride in their cultures give rise to a conflict with the leveling tendency of the Neighborhood Association, which favors unanimity of outlook.

If pride is singular, then shouldn't it be pride in their cultures gives rise to a ........ ? (in question 'give' is given)

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HSPA: Legendary Member; Posts: 1101; Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:26 am; Thanked: 47 times; Followed by:13 members; GMAT Score:640

by HSPA » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:03 pm

Well cans.. You still missed to make 'it' inplace of 'their'... this holds true if Slavic and Italic is one.. but they are two independent tribes I guess... there is lost of speculation here.. need more input from the submitter...

cans wrote:
GMATToppers wrote:
In the phrase "Italian and Slavic pride", "Italian" and "Slavic" are adjectives so they can not make the subject. The subject is "pride" which is singular.

In the Northern Heights area, Italian and Slavic pride in their cultures give rise to a conflict with the leveling tendency of the Neighborhood Association, which favors unanimity of outlook.
If pride is singular, then shouldn't it be pride in their cultures gives rise to a ........ ? (in question 'give' is given)

First take: 640 (50M, 27V) - RC needs 300% improvement
Second take: coming soon..
Regards,
HSPA.

Quote

GMATToppers: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 24; Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 4:53 am; Location: Bangalore; Thanked: 6 times; Followed by:1 members

by GMATToppers » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:35 pm

HSPA wrote:Well cans.. You still missed to make 'it' inplace of 'their'... this holds true if Slavic and Italic is one.. but they are two independent tribes I guess... there is lost of speculation here.. need more input from the submitter...

cans wrote:
GMATToppers wrote:
In the phrase "Italian and Slavic pride", "Italian" and "Slavic" are adjectives so they can not make the subject. The subject is "pride" which is singular.

In the Northern Heights area, Italian and Slavic pride in their cultures give rise to a conflict with the leveling tendency of the Neighborhood Association, which favors unanimity of outlook.
If pride is singular, then shouldn't it be pride in their cultures gives rise to a ........ ? (in question 'give' is given)