Emergency grammar question. Come pedants one and all.

[cathyandclaire]

Dd is about to 'pay and send' her personal statement and is having a last minute wobble about one sentence. It is..
I look forward to immersing myself in the unique combination of blaaaa and blaaa that subject A and subject B has to offer.
Or is it have to offer?
Does the has refer to 'the unique combination' singular or 'subject A and subject B' plural.
Everyone chez cathyandclaire disagrees and as subject A is English it really matters. Please help!

I'd change it to

I look forward to immersing myself in the unique combination of blaaaa and blaaa offered by subject A and subject B.

Sidesteps grammar trauma

Have sounds better. Whether it is right or not I don't know!

Has

I don't know the answer so I'm watching intently.

I'm very disappointed in myself.

I am going to assume it's a joint honours subject, eg English and Business or English and Law. In that case it's a singular subject and takes "has". However, it's an ugly construction.

I recommend the passive: "the unique combination of blaaa and blaaa offered by A and B."

I was so sure I'd know, but it turns out I don't. Very disappointed in myself!

Or add "the study of" which is definitely and comfortably singular.

It would be 'has' imo because it's referring to 'unique combination', which is singular. However, I would also sidestep and restructure as suggested!

Sorry, the subject of the clause is "subject A and subject B" but that doesn't make it plural.

I'd say has because it goes with 'combination'.

Has.

But I would rewrite qua littlebear

Have.

Substitute names in that sentence to see why:

... Looking forward to xxx that Jane and Joe have to offer.

Thanks so much, she has rewritten LittleBearPad's recommendation.
It has a few more characters but still squeaks in under the limit.

It is definitely 'have'. The verb 'to have' does not go with combination It goes with subject A and subject B and should therefore be plural. (languages teacher here, if that helps ).

If it helps, reorganise the sentence just to see why the veeb goes with subject A and subject B, not with combination:

Subject A and subject B HAVE a great combination to offer. The 'combination' isn't 'having' the subjects - the subjects are 'having' the combination iyyswim.

Definitely have. (Although in my view if subject a and subject b is a joint honours degree, they become a singular entity, so actually it could be has.

Helpful!

Yep, definitely 'have' not 'has'. You need the plural, as the verb relates to the subjects, not the combination.

I'd go with littlebear's version though.

(Should have properly closed my brackets to avoid my view being discarded on a pendants' thread)

Ah yes. Interesting point about it being a joint honours course, in which case I would also say 'has'!