Examples of Agreement with Compound Subjects

When it comes to writing, one of the most important things you need to keep in mind is agreement. Proper agreement ensures that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. When dealing with compound subjects, however, it can be a bit tricky to know how to properly use agreement. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at examples of agreement with compound subjects.

First, let’s define what a compound subject is. A compound subject is when two or more subjects are joined together by a conjunction (e.g., and, or, nor). For example, “Tom and Jerry” is a compound subject, as it is made up of two individual subjects joined by the conjunction “and.”

When dealing with compound subjects, it is important to remember that the verb must agree with the subject(s). In other words, the verb must reflect the number (singular or plural) of the subject. Below are some examples of agreement with compound subjects:

Example 1:

Tom and Jerry are best friends.

In this sentence, “Tom and Jerry” is the compound subject. Because there are two individual subjects joined by the conjunction “and,” the verb “are” is used to reflect the plural number of the subject.

Example 2:

Neither the cat nor the dog is awake.

In this sentence, “the cat” and “the dog” are the compound subjects. Even though there are two individual subjects, the conjunction “nor” negates the subject and makes it singular. Therefore, the verb “is” is used to reflect the singular number of the subject.

Example 3:

Apples, bananas, and oranges are my favorite fruits.

In this sentence, “apples,” “bananas,” and “oranges” are the compound subjects. Because there are three individual subjects joined by the conjunction “and,” the verb “are” is used to reflect the plural number of the subject.

Example 4:

Either the cat or the dog is going to the vet.

In this sentence, “the cat” and “the dog” are the compound subjects. Even though there are two individual subjects, the conjunction “either…or” makes it singular. Therefore, the verb “is” is used to reflect the singular number of the subject.

It is important to note that sometimes compound subjects can be tricky. You may need to analyze the sentence to determine if the subject is singular or plural. Additionally, there may be some exceptions to the rules of agreement. For example, sometimes collective nouns (e.g., team, family) can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context of the sentence.

In conclusion, understanding proper agreement with compound subjects is vital to effective writing. Always remember to ensure that the verb reflects the number of the subject(s). By reviewing and practicing these examples of agreement with compound subjects, you can improve the clarity and grammar of your writing.