quick grammar question

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Here's part of the sentence I'm writing

The performance and efficiency of the geothermal pumps is augmented

Should "is" be "are" ?

thanks

 

[firehawk12]

I think it's are, because it's "performance and efficiency" that's being augmented... but I'm not sure to be honest.

 

[Good Will Riker]

Subject: performance and efficiency

Verb: are

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

thanks. I'm an English major but I'm on no sleep right now, and couldn't work my way out of this wet paper bag!

Appreciate it!

 

[Good Will Riker]

thanks. I'm an English major but I'm on no sleep right now, and couldn't work my way out of this wet paper bag!

Appreciate it!

I have a BA in English Education.

What do you plan to do with your major?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I've been out of college for a while. Still need a job. Who knows what I'll do, save for the freelancing I'm doing right now.

I just drew a rare blank when reading that sentence; it doesn't usually happen.. I had gotten way too close to the project i was working on.

 

[propita]

Yup, it's "are."

"They are being augmented" where "they" consists of "performance and efficiency" not "the geothermal pump." It's not the pump that's being augmented, it's those qualities of the pump.

 

[Gryffindorian]

In the spirit of this forum, I would like to add that this reminds me of an episode of Mama's Family.

 

[Starbreaker]

woo for a business technical writing minor for me...

 

[dru]

The performance and efficiency of the geothermal pumps is augmented

"are"

Take out the prepositional phrase "of the geothermal pumps" and it becomes more clear:

"The performance and efficiency are augmented."

Carry on!

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I can see that now. It was really late, I had no sleep, and for some reason, i thought that since each was singular, that "is" might be appropriate.

it's not like me to screw up on that. Feel like a pro baseball player that drops a pop fly