The nominatives may consist of nouns or pronouns, either
singular or plural, or they may be phrases.
"Washington and Lincoln were chosen instruments of government."
"Judges and senates have been bought for gold,
Esteem and love were never to be sold."-- Pope.
"Art, empire, earth itself, to change are doomed."-- Beattie.
"You and he resemble each other."
"To read and to sing are desirable accomplishments."
"To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world,
and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very
different as rarely to coincide."-- Blair.
Singular in Meaning
Nominatives are sometimes plural in form but singular in meaning. Such
nominatives require a verb in the singular.
"The philosopher and poet was banished from his country." Was is
correct, because philosopher and poet are the same person.
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"Ambition, and not the safety of the state, was concerned." Was is
correct, because ambition is the subject. The words, "and not the
safety of the state," simply emphasize the subject, but do not give it
a plural meaning.
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