A little help!

[da man]

I'm proofing some promotional copy and have come across a construction that has me blanking. Is it:

Together, item one and item two are your winning team.

OR:

Together, item one and item two is your winning team.


The first one sounds right to me, but for some reason I'm looking at it and I can't make up my mind which it should be.

 

[doctorquant]

"Item one and item two make up your winning team."

 

[LongTimeListener]

The verb would be plural.

 

[Bronco77]

I'd go with the first one. Or doctorquant's response. Or maybe even something like, "Item one and item two form your winning team."

 

[Ace]

Dude,

You've got more than a noun-verb agreement. Both sound horrible. No 2 is more horrible. The subject is "Item 1 and Item 2," which is plural. If that helps.

 

[Moderator1]

are

 

[da man]

Thanks, guys. I know it's horrible -- it's promotional stuff from marketing types. I'm just the proofer on their stuff.

I just wasn't sure if it was one of those inverted deals where "team" was the real subject of the sentence.

Appreciate the help!

 

[Ace]

Thanks, guys. I know it's horrible -- it's promotional stuff from marketing types. I'm just the proofer on their stuff.

I just wasn't sure if it was one of those inverted deals where "team" was the real subject of the sentence.

Appreciate the help!

if you're not sure, look for an "and." That pretty much guarantees it's plural.

 

[UnderTheHammer]

if you're your not sure, look for an "and." That pretty much guarantees it's plural.

fork, I gotta do everything for you?