Grammar question
 

I turn to the Sphere’s collective know-how once again to solve a grammar question.

In a translation I’m workshopping now, there is this phrase:

To sigh my anguish and to cry my ache
consume my heart . . .

Should the verb “consume” be singular or plural?

There are differing opinions about it in the translation thread, some saying “to sigh” and “to cry” are separate actions that should not be treated as a unit, others saying that it is a single action made up of two elements.

My “instinct” would be to use the singular there, but that could just be my lousy education.

Does anyone know if there’s a proper grammatical rule for this sort of thing?

Andrew,

I don't know what the rule is here, but I can tell you that if "consume" is meant to be immediately and clearly recognized by the reader as a verb whose subject is the previous line, as opposed to a third verb in a list, "consumes" works better. Essentially, it sounds better. IMO.

David R.

I think the common rule states that when you have two items joined by the conjunction and the verb must be plural in order to have correct subject/verb agreement.

Sighing consumes my heart.

Sighing and crying consume my heart.

Therefore, in the example you give, the verb consume is the correct choice.

David and Richard, your takes on this are exactly the ones I’ve gone back and forth about--on one hand “consumes” sounds more natural, on the other hand, logically it seems that “consume” would be correct. When Richard rephrases it using the gerunds the choice is crystal clear, but with the infinitives it sounds different, and I’m not sure why that is other than maybe unconscious speech habits.

That reminds me, peanut butter and jelly are my favorite kind of sandwich. (Editing in -- Sorry, Richard, not trying to be cute, I guess my smartass impulse took over for a minute.)

To say "To sigh my anguish and to cry my ache" is a noun phrase equivalent to "peanut butter and jelly" may be a stretch, but that is what poetic license is for. I think it gives Andrew enough leeway to do what sounds best.

David R.

Moreover:

To cut and run is a coward's game. (Also: Cutting and Running is a coward's game.)

To have and to hold was the vow they made.

I dunno, Andrew, I think you can do what you want in this case.

David R.

Andrew:

Two actions consume my heart.

HTH,

Colin

Definitely singular. "It sounds right" is one of the best arguments I know. But, to rationalise, if the two subjects constitute a whole then the singular should be used.

Duncan

Andrew:

You never learn any grammar if mortui vivos docent. Those mortui make it so dull.

Mike

I'm relieved to see a vote for the singular here. Doubt and anxiety had been consuming my heart (plurally).