(verb)ing and (verb)ing with "show"

Question

This is easiest to explain with examples:

Examples

• 1a: Shouting and cursing shows that you are rude.
• 1b: Shouting and cursing show that you are rude.
• 2a: Hitting the target and splitting the arrow shows that he is an accomplished archer.
• 2b: Hitting the target and splitting the arrow show that he is an accomplished archer.

In cases like this, is "show" or "shows" correct?? If they are both correct, is there any difference in the meaning conveyed? Are there times where one or the other would be more appropriate or effective?

Answer 1

It depends on whether you consider the two verbs as part of a single action, or as two different actions.

For 2, you should use 2a, because "hitting the target and splitting the arrow" would be considered a single action.

If you're talking about two different actions, you need to use are. For example, you would use are in "passing and dribbling are two essential skills for soccer."

And for 1, you could plausibly consider shouting and cursing as a single action, or as two different actions, so both shows and show work there.

Answer 2

There is a logical difference, although the semantic difference is slight:

1a: If you shout and curse, you are rude.
1b: If you shout, you are rude. If you curse, you are rude.

And similarly for 2a and 2b.