Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects

Learning Objectives Identify a compound subject in a sentence. Define the term 'conjunction' and identify 'and,' 'or,' and 'nor' in sentences. Apply the 'and' rule to make the verb agree with a plural compound subject. Apply the 'or/nor' rule to make the verb agree with the subject closest to it. Write original sentences using compound subjects with correct subject-verb agreement. Have you ever tried to talk about two friends at once? Do you say, 'Maria and Sam is playing' or 'Maria and Sam are playing'? Let's find out! 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♂️ Today, we will learn about compound subjects, which are when a sentence has more than one subject. We'll discover the special rules for making verbs agree with...

TermDefinitionExample SubjectThe person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something in a sentence. It's who or what the sentence is about.In 'The dog barks,' the subject is 'The dog'. VerbA word that shows an action (like run, jump) or a state of being (like is, are, was, were).In 'The dog barks,' the verb is 'barks'. Subject-Verb AgreementThe rule that a subject and its verb must match. Singular subjects use singular verbs, and plural subjects use plural verbs.'The cat sleeps' (singular). 'The cats sleep' (plural). Compound SubjectTwo or more subjects in one sentence that share the same verb. They are usually connected by a word like 'and' or 'or'.In 'The dog and the cat play,' the...

The 'And' Rule (Plural Power!) Subject + and + Subject = Plural Verb When two or more subjects are joined by the word 'and,' they act as a team, making the subject plural. You must use a plural verb (a verb that doesn't end in -s in the present tense). The 'Or' / 'Nor' Rule (Closest Counts!) Subject + or/nor + Subject = Verb agrees with the CLOSEST subject When two subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor,' the verb must agree with the subject that is physically closer to it in the sentence. Look right before the verb to find your clue!