{"id":548,"date":"2025-04-23T18:00:27","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T22:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/grammarbasics\/?post_type=chapter&p=548"},"modified":"2026-01-26T12:54:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:54:39","slug":"tricky-situation-compound-subjects","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/grammarbasics\/chapter\/tricky-situation-compound-subjects\/","title":{"raw":"Tricky Situation: Compound Subjects","rendered":"Tricky Situation: Compound Subjects"},"content":{"raw":"You may recall from a previous discussion that sometimes a subject is made up of multiple parts, as in the following sentence.\r\n

Delilah and Surbaz own a minivan.<\/em><\/p>\r\nThe verb here is\u00a0own<\/em>, and the subject is both the names (Delilah and Surbaz<\/em>). That's called a compound subject.\r\n\r\nDeciding which verb to use when you have a compound subject can be a little tricky, so let's go through the possibilities slowly, one at a time.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Compound Subjects: Both Parts are Singular<\/h4>\r\nIn this situation, you look at the word that joins them:\u00a0and<\/em>\/or\/nor<\/em><\/strong>.\r\n\r\nIf the two parts are joined by\u00a0and<\/em>, then you use the plural verb (because you're talking about two people\/things).\r\n

Delilah and<\/strong> Surbaz are<\/span> at home.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nIf the two parts are joined by\u00a0or<\/em>, then you use the singular verb (because you're talking about either one or<\/span> the other).\r\n

Delilah or<\/strong> Surbaz is<\/span> at home.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Neither Delilah nor<\/strong> Surbaz is<\/span> at home.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Compound Subjects: One is Singular, Other One is Plural<\/h4>\r\nIf the two parts are joined by\u00a0and<\/em>, then you use a plural verb.\r\n

The roast beef and<\/strong> the vegetables taste<\/span> delicious.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nHowever, if they are joined by either\u00a0or<\/em> or\u00a0nor<\/em>, then you choose the verb based on the\u00a0closest<\/span> subject. Let's see an example.\r\n

The roses or<\/strong> the chocolate (<\/span><\/em>aggravates\/ aggravate<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0my allergies.<\/em><\/p>\r\nIn this sentence I have a compound subject made up of two parts: roses\u00a0<\/em>(plural) and chocolate\u00a0<\/em>(singular). The singular subject\u00a0chocolate<\/em> is closer to the verb, so I use the singular verb.\r\n\r\n \r\n

The roses or<\/strong> the chocolate aggravates<\/span> my allergies.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nIf I flip the order of the subjects, things change: Now the plural subject\u00a0roses<\/em> is closer to the verb, so I use the plural form of the verb.\r\n\r\n \r\n

The chocolate or<\/strong> the roses aggravate<\/span> my allergies.<\/em><\/p>\r\n \r\n

\r\n\r\nYou may notice that I didn't include a heading for\u00a0Compound Subject: Both are Plural<\/em>. That's because in that instance, you'll use the plural verb every time.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n ","rendered":"

You may recall from a previous discussion that sometimes a subject is made up of multiple parts, as in the following sentence.<\/p>\n

Delilah and Surbaz own a minivan.<\/em><\/p>\n

The verb here is\u00a0own<\/em>, and the subject is both the names (Delilah and Surbaz<\/em>). That’s called a compound subject.<\/p>\n

Deciding which verb to use when you have a compound subject can be a little tricky, so let’s go through the possibilities slowly, one at a time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Compound Subjects: Both Parts are Singular<\/h4>\n

In this situation, you look at the word that joins them:\u00a0and<\/em>\/or\/nor<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If the two parts are joined by\u00a0and<\/em>, then you use the plural verb (because you’re talking about two people\/things).<\/p>\n

Delilah and<\/strong> Surbaz are<\/span> at home.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If the two parts are joined by\u00a0or<\/em>, then you use the singular verb (because you’re talking about either one or<\/span> the other).<\/p>\n

Delilah or<\/strong> Surbaz is<\/span> at home.<\/em><\/p>\n

Neither Delilah nor<\/strong> Surbaz is<\/span> at home.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Compound Subjects: One is Singular, Other One is Plural<\/h4>\n

If the two parts are joined by\u00a0and<\/em>, then you use a plural verb.<\/p>\n

The roast beef and<\/strong> the vegetables taste<\/span> delicious.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, if they are joined by either\u00a0or<\/em> or\u00a0nor<\/em>, then you choose the verb based on the\u00a0closest<\/span> subject. Let’s see an example.<\/p>\n

The roses or<\/strong> the chocolate (<\/span><\/em>aggravates\/ aggravate<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0my allergies.<\/em><\/p>\n

In this sentence I have a compound subject made up of two parts: roses\u00a0<\/em>(plural) and chocolate\u00a0<\/em>(singular). The singular subject\u00a0chocolate<\/em> is closer to the verb, so I use the singular verb.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The roses or<\/strong> the chocolate aggravates<\/span> my allergies.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If I flip the order of the subjects, things change: Now the plural subject\u00a0roses<\/em> is closer to the verb, so I use the plural form of the verb.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The chocolate or<\/strong> the roses aggravate<\/span> my allergies.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

You may notice that I didn’t include a heading for\u00a0Compound Subject: Both are Plural<\/em>. That’s because in that instance, you’ll use the plural verb every time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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