Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 8: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects

In this Grade 5 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn how to make verbs agree with compound subjects joined by and, or, and nor. The lesson covers key rules: compound subjects joined by and take a plural verb, singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb, and when a singular and plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Students practice applying these rules through exercises that reinforce correct verb agreement in a variety of sentence structures.

Section 1

Phrases Between Subject and Verb

Definition

The number of a subject is not changed by a phrase or clause following the subject.

Explanation

Don't let extra words trick you! Sometimes, a group of words, called a phrase or clause, will be placed between the subject and the verb. Your job is to ignore those extra details and find the true subject of the sentence. Then, make sure the verb agrees with that subject, whether it's singular or plural.

Examples

  • The leader of the marching bands is my older sister. [The true subject is the singular noun leader, not the plural noun bands.]
  • The paintings that the artist sold at the fair were beautiful. [The true subject is the plural noun paintings, not the singular noun fair.]
  • The noise from the loud airplanes gives me a headache. [The subject is the singular noun noise, not the plural noun airplanes.]

Section 2

Compound Subjects Joined by "And"

Definition

Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.

Explanation

When you connect two or more subjects with the word and, you're making a team! That team almost always needs a plural verb. For example, “He runs,” but “They run.” But be careful! If the two nouns are describing the same single person or thing (like “my friend and neighbor”), you should use a singular verb instead.

Examples

  • Do Sara and Ben want to join the game? [The subjects Sara and Ben are joined by and. The plural helping verb Do agrees with the compound subject.]
  • The creator and director of the movie is my uncle. [Creator and director refer to the same person, so the compound subject is treated as singular. The singular verb is is correct.]
  • The elephants and monkeys eat a lot of fruit. -> [Elephants and monkeys are two different types of animals, so they need the plural verb eat.]

Section 3

Compound Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor"

Definition

Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural verb. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Explanation

When you use or or nor, the rule is to look at the subjects on either side. If they're both singular, use a singular verb. If they're both plural, use a plural verb. If you have a mix, just follow the Proximity Rule: the verb agrees with whichever subject is closer to it in the sentence.

Examples

  • Does a cat or a dog make a better pet? [The singular helping verb Does agrees with the singular subjects cat and dog.]
  • Neither the coaches nor the players were ready for the game to end. [The plural verb were agrees with the plural subjects coaches and players.]
  • Either my cousins or my aunt brings the dessert for the party. [The singular subject aunt is nearer to the verb, so the singular verb brings is used.]
  • Either my aunt or my cousins (brings, bring) the dessert for the party. [The plural subject cousins is nearer to the verb, so the plural verb bring is used.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 8: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Agreement of Subject and Verb

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

    LearnPractice
  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement A

    LearnPractice
  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement B

    LearnPractice

Lesson overview

Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.

Expand

Section 1

Phrases Between Subject and Verb

Definition

The number of a subject is not changed by a phrase or clause following the subject.

Explanation

Don't let extra words trick you! Sometimes, a group of words, called a phrase or clause, will be placed between the subject and the verb. Your job is to ignore those extra details and find the true subject of the sentence. Then, make sure the verb agrees with that subject, whether it's singular or plural.

Examples

  • The leader of the marching bands is my older sister. [The true subject is the singular noun leader, not the plural noun bands.]
  • The paintings that the artist sold at the fair were beautiful. [The true subject is the plural noun paintings, not the singular noun fair.]
  • The noise from the loud airplanes gives me a headache. [The subject is the singular noun noise, not the plural noun airplanes.]

Section 2

Compound Subjects Joined by "And"

Definition

Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.

Explanation

When you connect two or more subjects with the word and, you're making a team! That team almost always needs a plural verb. For example, “He runs,” but “They run.” But be careful! If the two nouns are describing the same single person or thing (like “my friend and neighbor”), you should use a singular verb instead.

Examples

  • Do Sara and Ben want to join the game? [The subjects Sara and Ben are joined by and. The plural helping verb Do agrees with the compound subject.]
  • The creator and director of the movie is my uncle. [Creator and director refer to the same person, so the compound subject is treated as singular. The singular verb is is correct.]
  • The elephants and monkeys eat a lot of fruit. -> [Elephants and monkeys are two different types of animals, so they need the plural verb eat.]

Section 3

Compound Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor"

Definition

Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural verb. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Explanation

When you use or or nor, the rule is to look at the subjects on either side. If they're both singular, use a singular verb. If they're both plural, use a plural verb. If you have a mix, just follow the Proximity Rule: the verb agrees with whichever subject is closer to it in the sentence.

Examples

  • Does a cat or a dog make a better pet? [The singular helping verb Does agrees with the singular subjects cat and dog.]
  • Neither the coaches nor the players were ready for the game to end. [The plural verb were agrees with the plural subjects coaches and players.]
  • Either my cousins or my aunt brings the dessert for the party. [The singular subject aunt is nearer to the verb, so the singular verb brings is used.]
  • Either my aunt or my cousins (brings, bring) the dessert for the party. [The plural subject cousins is nearer to the verb, so the plural verb bring is used.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 8: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Agreement of Subject and Verb

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

    LearnPractice
  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement A

    LearnPractice
  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement B

    LearnPractice