Do I use 'is' or 'are' in this sentence?

Question

Complimentary lunch and valet or self parking (on the Federal Street side) IS/ARE included in this event.

My manager and I got into a debate about this today because my spell checker caught it. My spell checker said it should be "is". I know "are" sounds better, but after doing research on the internet about this, I believe it's 'is". I read that if the subject is referencing plural items, you use "are",

The birds are eating
The bird is eating

But since this sentence is using singular (non-counting also) nouns, I think you would use "is". However, what I am confused the most about is that there are 3 nouns (lunch, valet, self parking). That doesn't make it a plural form, does it? HELP!!!!!

Who's correct?

I'm not asking for what sounds better...what I need to know is which is correct.

Answer 1

You always use the verb of be that meets both answers individually. If each term uses different verbs of be, then they cannot both be used in the same sentence.

One would say, "Complimentary lunch is included." It is a singular term, so "is" is used. You would also say, "Self parking is included." "Self parking is a singular term, so you would use is.

Therefore, you would say, "Complimentary lunch and self parking is included".

If I were to use plural terms, such as "Grapes and Strawberries are provided", I would use "are".

Actually, in both sentences I would use future perfect for an event in the future and would change it to, "Complementary lunch and self parking will be provided", as it is not provided now....it will be provided when the event occurs.

Just to cover yourself, consider, "Complementary lunch will be provided and self or valet parking will be available on the Federal Street side."

Answer 2

It's actually ARE.

"Complimentary lunch and valet or self parking (on the Federal Street side) ARE included in this event."

If it was just 'valet or self parking', it could be IS or ARE, because this can be viewed either as one thing OR two things being offered. One type of parking IS all you will get and all that you are entitled to - not both. Still, two choices ARE available

But by adding 'complimentary lunch', the ambiguity is between the three things that I will give and the two that you will get. Either way, it's plural and requires ARE.

Answer 3

Complimentary lunch and valet or self parking (on the Federal Street side) is included in this event.

Complimentary lunch and valet or self parking (on the Federal Street side) are included in this event.

I like the way the first sentence sounds. If the word before (is/are) were plural, 'are' would sound best. I don't know what the actual rule(s) is/are. ;)

Answer 4

Complimentary lunch and valet or self parking (on the Federal Street side) IS included in this event.


It's stating that whatever you choose (Valet or self-parking) is included.

Answer 5

It's are. With OR, you disregard the addition to valet. Even though both LUNCH and VALET are singular, they are joined by an AND. So that's basically saying, "Lunch and valet IS/ARE included." Which sounds better THERE?


Are.

Answer 6

I would choose ARE for this reason:
You have a double subject, LUNCH + PARKING
are both included, and whether you choose valet or self parking it's still Parking.

BUT:
If you have a clear choice, where you have to pick one of two things, you'd use IS
Ex.: Soup OR salad IS included. (You only get one.)

Answer 7

The verb "are" is correct since there are more than one noun you are referring to, the lunch and the parking.

Answer 8

Cut out everything but your subjects...."lunch IS included "and
"parking IS included". You wouldn't say "are" with either one, certainly not both!!

IS!!!

Answer 9

Just use "will be" instead. Seems easier to me.