Collins Cobuild English Grammar (160 page)

However, if the people or things are closely associated in some way, you do not need to repeat the determiner.

My mother and father
worked hard.
The jacket and skirt
were skilfully designed.
…a man in
a suit and tie
.

Sometimes both determiners are omitted.

Mother and baby
are doing well.
All this had of course been discussed between
husband and wife
.

referring to one person or thing

8.175
    You can sometimes use noun phrases linked by
and
to refer to just one person or thing.

He’s a racist
and
a sexist.
…the novelist
and
playwright, Somerset Maugham.

omitting adjectives

8.176
    When you are linking two nouns, an adjective in front of the first noun usually applies to both nouns.

…the
young men and women
of America.
…a house crammed with
beautiful furniture and china
.

verb agreement

8.177
    When the subject of a clause consists of two or more nouns linked by
and
, you use a plural verb.

My mother and father
are
ill.
Time, money and effort
were
needed.

However, you do not use a plural verb if the nouns refer to the same person or thing.

The writer and filmmaker Michael Hey
disagrees
.

You also do not use a plural verb with uncountable nouns preceded by
all
, or with singular countable nouns preceded by
each
or
every
.

All this effort and sacrifice
has
not helped to alleviate poverty.
It became necessary to involve every man, woman and child who
was
willing to help.

When you link two or more nouns with
or
, you use a plural verb after plural nouns, and a singular verb after singular nouns or uncountable nouns.

One generation’s problems or successes
are
passed to the next.
Can you say No to a friend or relative who
wants
to insist?

When you link two or more nouns with
or
, and the nouns would take different verb forms if they were used alone, a plural verb is generally used.

It’s fine if your parents or brother
want
to come.

linking pronouns together

8.178
    You can put
and
,
or
, or
not
between a pronoun and a noun, or between two pronouns.

Howard
and
I are planning a party.
She
and
I have a very good relationship.
Do you
or
your partner speak German?
I’m talking to you,
not
her.

When you say something about yourself and someone else, you usually put the pronoun or noun referring to the other person first, and the pronoun referring to yourself second.

My sister
and
I lived totally different kinds of lives.
You
and
I must have a talk together.
…a difference of opinion between John
and
me.
The first people to hear were the Foreign Secretary
and
myself.

8.179
    For information on how to coordinate more than two noun phrases, see paragraph
8.200
.

Linking adjectives and adverbs

8.180
    When you use two adjectives to describe someone or something, you sometimes put a conjunction between them. This is explained in the following paragraphs
8.181
to
8.187
. Conjunctions are also sometimes placed between adverbs. This is explained in paragraph
8.188
.

qualitative adjectives

8.181
    When you put two
qualitative adjectives
in front of a noun, you put
and
or a comma between the adjectives.

…an
intelligent and ambitious
woman.
…an
intelligent, generous
man.

colour adjectives

8.182
    When you put two
colour adjectives
in front of a noun, you put
and
between them.

…a
black and white
swimming suit.

classifying adjectives

8.183
    When you put two
classifying adjectives
in front of a noun, you have to decide whether the adjectives relate to the same system of classification or to different systems.

For example,
geographical
and
geological
relate to the same system;
British
and
industrial
relate to different systems.

When you put two classifying adjectives in front of a noun, and the adjectives relate to the same classifying system, you put
and
between them.

…a
social and educational
dilemma.

When the adjectives relate to different classifying systems, you do not put
and
between them, or use a comma.

…the
French classical
pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque.
…
medieval Muslim
philosophers.
…a
square wooden
table.
…
American agricultural
exports.

different types of adjective

8.184
    When you put two adjectives of different types in front of a noun, for example a qualitative adjective and a classifying adjective, you do not put
and
between them or use a comma.

…a
large circular
pool of water.
…a
beautiful pink
suit.
…
rapid technological
advance.

adjectives with plural nouns

8.185
    When you put two adjectives in front of a plural noun in order to talk about two groups of things that have different or opposite qualities, you put
and
between the adjectives.

…business people from
large and small
companies.
…
European and American
traditions.

adjectives after verbs

8.186
    When you use two adjectives after a
linking verb
, you put
and
between them.

Mrs Scott’s house was
large and imposing
.
The room was
large and square
.
On this point we can be
clear and precise
.

using other conjunctions

8.187
    You can also put
but
,
yet
, or
or
between adjectives.

When you link contrasting adjectives, you put
but
or
yet
between them.

…a
small but comfortable
hotel.
We are
poor but happy
. …a
firm yet gentle
hand.

When you want to say that either of two adjectives could apply, or to ask which adjective applies, you use
or
.

You can use
red or black
paint.
Call me if you feel
lonely or bored
.
Is this
good or bad
?

If you want to say that neither of two adjectives applies, you use
or
in a negative sentence.

He was
not exciting or good-looking
.

Another way of saying that neither of two adjectives applies is to put
neither
in front of the first one and
nor
in front of the second one.

He is
neither young nor handsome
.
Their diet is
neither healthy nor varied
.

linking adverbs together

8.188
    You can put
and
between
adverbs
.

Mary was breathing
quietly and evenly
.
We have to keep airports running
smoothly and efficiently
.
They walk
up and down
, smiling.

When you link contrasting adverbs, you put
but
or
yet
between them.

Quickly but silently
she darted out of the cell.

If you want to say that neither of two adverbs applies, you use a negative sentence with
or
between the adverbs, or you put
neither
in front of the first adverb and
nor
in front of the second one.

Giving birth does not happen
easily or painlessly
.
The story ends
neither happily nor unhappily
.

8.189
    For information on how to coordinate more than two adjectives, see paragraph
8.201
.

Linking other words and phrases

8.190
    Coordinating conjunctions can also be used to link
prepositions
,
prepositional phrases
,
modifiers
, and
determiners
.

linking prepositions together

8.191
    You can use
and
to link
prepositions
that apply to the same noun.

We see them on their way
to and from
school.
You should take the tablets
during and after
your visit.

linking prepositional phrases together

8.192
    You can use
and
to link
prepositional phrases
when you are describing similar actions, situations, or things.

They walked
across the lawn and down the garden path
.
They had crumbs
around their mouths and under their chins
.

However, if the phrases describe the same action, situation, or thing, you do not put
and
between them.

Her husband was hit
over the head with a mallet
.
They walked
down the drive between the chestnut trees
.
…a man
of about forty with wide staring eyes
.