Understanding the Correct Use of Singular and Plural Verbs: When to Use 'Mom and Dad'

For those who might be puzzled about the correct use of singular and plural verbs, let's take a closer look at the phrase 'Mom and Dad.' This commonly used phrase often causes confusion due to its dual representation of singular and plural nouns.

Singular vs. Plural: Basic Concepts and Exceptions

The grammatical concepts of singular and plural nouns and verbs are fundamental to proper sentence construction. However, complex nouns like 'mom and dad' introduce an additional layer of complexity. Within English grammar, 'mom' and 'dad' signify two individuals, which can create ambiguity when it comes to choosing the correct verb form. Let's explore when to use singular and plural constructions correctly.

The Role of Context and Noun Types

Firstly, it's crucial to understand that singular versus plural designations depend on the context and the nature of the noun. Some nouns that refer to more than one person are considered singular in terms of their reference, such as 'parents.' On the other hand, collective nouns like 'family' might refer to a group of people but are typically treated as singular.
For example:

Parents is a plural noun such as in: "Parents are the primary caregivers in the family." Here, 'parents' refers to two individuals, mom and dad.

Family on the other hand is a collective noun and thus is treated as singular: "The family is a unit of love and support."

Despite these collective nouns often appearing plural, they typically require singular verbs to maintain grammatical consistency.

Deciding the Correct Verb Form

When you're asking how 'mom and dad' are doing or referring to them in a sentence, the correct verb form depends on the context and the intended meaning. To clarify, let's address the question:

How would the question 'How are mom and dad' be answered?

Hint: Mom and dad are two people.

Based on the hint provided, 'mom and dad' refers to two individuals. Therefore, the correct answer should be:

'How are mom and dad fine?'

or

'How are mom and dad?'

Upon combining the two entities with 'and,' you're forming a plural subject, necessitating the use of a plural verb. Hence, 'are' would be the correct choice here.

Rewriting with Different Verbs and Structures

To further illustrate, let's rewrite the sentence in different ways:

Short and Concise: How are mom and dad? - Here, 'are' is directly used to indicate that we're talking about two people.

Rephrasing with a Conjunction: How are mom and dad doing? - The answer would still be 'are' because 'and' has joined 'mom' and 'dad' into a plural subject.

Creating a Singular Pronoun: How are they? - If you want to refer to 'mom and dad' as a singular entity, you can form a singular pronoun by changing 'mom and dad' to 'they.' In this case, the answer would be 'are,' as 'are' is the plural form of 'they.'

Through these examples, you can see that the relationship between the subject and verb in the sentence is always based on their number (singular or plural) rather than their number alone.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between singular and plural forms is a cornerstone of effective writing. The phrase 'mom and dad' presents a common point of confusion, but by looking at the context and the nature of the subject, you can determine the correct verb form. Whether you're using 'are' for a clear plural subject or 'they' to refer to 'mom and dad' as a collective, the key is consistency and clarity in your writing.