aren't
As if the performance and handling of the (car) aren't exciting enough,
"performance and handling" are two items. replace with "paint and stereo" and aren't sounds just fine. Mentally we group performance and handling into one idea.
Quick grammar question
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aren't
As if the performance and handling of the (car) aren't exciting enough,
"performance and handling" are two items. replace with "paint and stereo" and aren't sounds just fine. Mentally we group performance and handling into one idea.
Vague and doesn't sound correct. I'd phrase it as follows and I have professional articles published one was an automotive article.
"The performance and handling of the "current i.e. FL5 or previous FK8" aren't exciting either because or compared to xyz."
The subject of the sentence is "performance and handling". The verb should match the subject, so it should be plural. The prepositional phrase "of the car" is irrelevant to this.
However, as @K-Man points out, the subject "performance and handling" is a common phrase that can be interpreted as singular, much like "pork and beans". So using the singular would not be grammatically incorrect.
However, as @K-Man points out, the subject "performance and handling" is a common phrase that can be interpreted as singular, much like "pork and beans". So using the singular would not be grammatically incorrect.
The subject (performance & handling) is plural; the correct answer is "aren't." In addition, as long as you posed a grammar question, writers should try to stay away from passive voice, e.g., "...of the Civic." I know it's become somewhat ubiquitous these days, but it's considered "low English" to inject passive voice. The best and most concise sentence would therefore be:
As if the Civic Type R's performance and handling aren't exciting enough.
As if the Civic Type R's performance and handling aren't exciting enough.
Removing the contraction usually helps to clarify things. "Is not" or "Are not."
Pork is good, beans are not good (people don't like vegetables generally). Pork and beans together (1 dish) is good.
Performance is good, handling is good, they are both good so performance and handling are good. P and H stay 2 items
My take but I'm not native english speaking so I'll get my coat.
Dyson does the extra adjectives in it's advertising. I like to think they speak with 2 words lol. "Digital motor" is one that springs to mind
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It’s an “if” statement, so “weren’t” is actually most correct. It’s setting up a hypothetical, so establishing an imaginary state. “If it were.” “As if it were.”
PS “Aren’t” is least correct. “The performance, braking, and handling [of the car] is good.” Singular. Each item listed is a separate singular part of the real single subject, the car. This is a very common mistake, to the point it’s made in common language so much, people think it’s correct.
“Are” is appropriate when the items are plural, or when they are separate subjects. “The brakes and tires are good.”
PS “Aren’t” is least correct. “The performance, braking, and handling [of the car] is good.” Singular. Each item listed is a separate singular part of the real single subject, the car. This is a very common mistake, to the point it’s made in common language so much, people think it’s correct.
“Are” is appropriate when the items are plural, or when they are separate subjects. “The brakes and tires are good.”
But the car is not the subject of the sentence. This is also a common language error.
Yes the word IF is used, but it's not really a classical IF statement.....because AS. As if.............
So far, this is the best response on this thread.
On the original question, you can make a case for either a plural or singular verb. My preference would be the plural.
But a little more context if required.
I suspect that the sentence is describing a possible circumstance that is contrary to the truth, which is likely to make this a construction using the subjunctive mood. This makes "weren't" the preferred verb.
"As if" is so 80's. The proper term today is "Whatever..."
It's not just about number agreement. The use of the term "were" can indicate number, but can also indicate mood.
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They are characteristics owned by the car.
“The car’s performance and braking is good.”
“The tires and brakes are good.”
Same with NVH... long form "Noise, Vibration and Harshness" but you'd say "NVH is next to nothing on a Lexus."
If this gets confusing, go for the singular:
The performance is good.
The brakes are good. The braking is good.
This is hitting the point. What little of the sentence we have is indicating a condition contrary to fact, so "is" and "are" should not be used. However, seeing the entire paragraph would add context which might allow us to determine the point that the writer was trying to convey.
I know, right.
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