When "or" joins two or more singular simple subjects, the verb is singular. (The conjunction "and" makes the subject plural, even if the two simple subjects ("Janet" and "John") are singular.) When "and" joins two or more singular simple subjects, the verb is plural. (Reason 1) Match your compound subject to the right verb.Īfter using a compound subject, writers are sometimes unsure whether to use a singular or plural verb. Here are two good reasons with care about compound subjects. Neither gods nor men foresee when an evil deed will bear its fruit.Neither the University of Michigan nor its law school uses a quota system.No man or woman has ever wrecked a good marriage.Beastie Boys and David Bowie are two of my favorite artists.Here are some real-life examples of compound subjects (shaded): Neither the military nor the police has any suitable vehicles.My wife and I cannot attend unfortunately.A driving permit or a passport is required.A fool and his money are easily parted.A clean driving licence, sales experience, and team spirit are essential.Here are some easy examples of compound subjects (shaded): In a compound subject, the simple subjects are joined by words like "and," "or," or "nor" (called coordinate conjunctions) or pairings like "either/or" and "neither/nor" (called correlative conjunctions). Real-Life Examples of Compound Subjects.
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