Non-count subject-verb agreement* is rather simple when dealing with only one subject - we use the single verb tense.
Example:
Chicken is my favourite food.
However, it gets a little tricky and is open to interpretation when we have more than one subject that is non-count.
The issue to consider is whether the non-count items are to be considered as a unit, where "and" forms part of the compound-noun expression, or if "and" is being used as a conjunction, separating two completely different items, as if in a list.
Example:
Chicken and rice is my favourite food. (1 dish)
Compound-noun expression - unit.
Chicken and rice are my favourite foods. (2 different dishes)
"And" is being used as a conjunction.
Other examples:
Sand and water feels good between my toes.
Sand and water are things found at a beach.
Salt and pepper is the colour of George Clooney's hair.
Salt and pepper are ingredients Brad uses to make Turkey Pot Pie.
*For more information on types of nouns, including non-count nouns, see my blog post Nouns from September 2011.
Example:
Chicken is my favourite food.
However, it gets a little tricky and is open to interpretation when we have more than one subject that is non-count.
The issue to consider is whether the non-count items are to be considered as a unit, where "and" forms part of the compound-noun expression, or if "and" is being used as a conjunction, separating two completely different items, as if in a list.
Example:
Chicken and rice is my favourite food. (1 dish)
Compound-noun expression - unit.
Chicken and rice are my favourite foods. (2 different dishes)
"And" is being used as a conjunction.
Other examples:
Sand and water feels good between my toes.
Sand and water are things found at a beach.
Salt and pepper is the colour of George Clooney's hair.
Salt and pepper are ingredients Brad uses to make Turkey Pot Pie.
*For more information on types of nouns, including non-count nouns, see my blog post Nouns from September 2011.
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