{"id":6522,"date":"2023-04-12T06:00:34","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T11:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=6522"},"modified":"2023-04-11T14:00:56","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T19:00:56","slug":"compound-subject","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/singular-vs-plural\/compound-subject\/","title":{"rendered":"Compound Subject: Definition and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael plays basketball.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jeremiah doesn’t trust pirate radio stations.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hailey dances in a ballet company.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You likely recognize these statements as simple, declarative sentences<\/a> that include basic components of grammar\u2014namely a singular subject and a verb that agrees.<\/p>\n

When the subject position has two or more nouns or pronouns joined by a coordinating conjunction<\/a>, we refer to this as a compound subject. As a plural grouping, a compound subject typically corresponds with a plural verb<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Michael<\/u> and<\/u> Scottie<\/u> play<\/u> basketball.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jeremiah<\/u> and<\/u> Henry<\/u> don’t<\/u> trust pirate radio stations.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hailey,<\/u> Caitlin<\/u>, and<\/u> Shanika<\/u> dance<\/u> in a ballet company.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Compound Subjects: What They Achieve<\/h2>\n

Compound subjects allow us to keep our writing more succinct. Otherwise, it might look more like this:<\/p>\n

Michael plays basketball. Scottie plays basketball too.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jeremiah doesn’t trust pirate radio stations. Henry doesn’t trust pirate radio stations, either.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hailey dances in a ballet company. Caitlin also dances in a ballet company, as does Shanika.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

By using compound subjects, we condense related or similar information. This reduces our word count and saves our audience from crossing extra mental distance in order to understand us.<\/p>\n

Compound Subjects: Are They Plural or Singular?<\/h2>\n

As we touched on, most compound subjects will take a plural verb. However, some constructions will have a singular verb. Whether to use a plural or singular verb will be determined by the conjunction connecting the subjects.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeremiah<\/u> and<\/u> Henry<\/u> don’t<\/u> trust pirate radio stations. (plural)<\/p>\n

Jeremiah<\/u> or<\/u> Henry<\/u> doesn’t trust pirate radio stations. (singular)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the first sentence, the conjunction and <\/em>connects the subjects and makes them plural. In the second sentence, the conjunction or <\/em>separates the subjects and makes them singular.<\/p>\n

When we have a compound subject with a conjunction (or<\/em>) or a correlative conjunction<\/a> such as either\u2026or<\/em>, the noun or pronoun closest to the verb decides whether it is singular or plural.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The dog or the cats<\/u> are<\/u> tracking dirt on the floor.<\/p>\n

Either the cats or the dog<\/u> is<\/u> tracking dirt on the floor.<\/p>\n

Neither the dog nor the cats<\/u> are<\/u> tracking dirt on the floor.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some writers might feel that a mixed plural and singular compound subject sounds awkward when the singular noun comes last and prompts the singular verb (the cats or the dog<\/u> is<\/u> tracking<\/em>). The easy solution is to always place the plural subject last when it appears with a singular one (the dog or the cats<\/span> are<\/span> tracking<\/em>).<\/p>\n

This can become particularly true when we have longer compound subjects:<\/p>\n

Neither Donovan, Napoleon, the Smiths, nor I<\/u> am<\/u> going to the bake sale.<\/em><\/p>\n

Neither I, the Smiths, Napoleon, nor Donovan<\/u> is<\/u> going to the bake sale.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Such sentences are better written as:<\/p>\n

Neither Donovan, Napoleon, I, nor the Smiths<\/u> are<\/u> going to the bake sale.<\/em><\/p>\n

Donovan<\/u>, Napoleon<\/u>, the Smiths<\/u>, and<\/u> I are<\/u> not going to the bake sale.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the word each <\/em>or every<\/em> precedes singular subjects joined by and<\/em>, we use a singular verb:<\/p>\n

Each<\/u> dog and every<\/u> cat is<\/u> tracking dirt on the floor.<\/em><\/p>\n

Every<\/u> dog and every<\/u> cat is<\/u> tracking dirt on the floor.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the word each <\/em>appears after a plural subject, the verb form does not change. If each <\/em>appears after a compound subject with singular nouns or pronouns, some writers may choose to use either a singular or plural verb.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The students<\/u> each<\/u> have<\/u> shared where Katrina’s essay might be.
\nThe student<\/u> and the teacher<\/u> each<\/u> have<\/u> shared where Katrina’s essay might be
\nThe student<\/u> and the teacher<\/u> each<\/u> has<\/u> shared where Katrina’s essay might be.<\/p>\n

They each<\/u> have<\/u> shared where Katrina’s essay might be.
\nThe student<\/u> and she<\/u> each<\/u> have<\/u> shared where Katrina’s essay might be.
\nShe<\/u> and the student<\/u> each<\/u> has<\/u> shared where Katrina’s essay might be.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Compound Subjects: What Are They Not?<\/h2>\n

Some grammatical units may appear to be compound subjects but are not.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Aiding and abetting<\/u> a criminal is<\/u> not a good idea.<\/p>\n

The bed and breakfast<\/u> in Albany, Wisconsin, is<\/u> delightful.<\/p>\n

Peanut butter and jelly<\/u> is<\/u> popular among sandwiches for kids.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The nouns here are not compound subjects but rather compound nouns representing a single unit. As single units, they take singular verbs.<\/p>\n

Now consider these sentences:<\/p>\n

Mitaako<\/u>, as well as Gasimba, is<\/u> training for the event.<\/em><\/p>\n

Santos<\/u>, along with Francisca, rides<\/u> his bike to work each morning.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marie<\/u>, in addition to Marcella, likes<\/u> to have family over for dinner each month.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Each sentence has a singular subject. What seems to be another subject that would make it compound is a phrase that modifies the singular subject (as well as<\/em>, along with<\/em>, in addition to<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Let’s look at one more example:<\/p>\n

Billy<\/u> (and usually his wife) attends<\/u> every party that offers free food.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here again it seems we have a compound subject, but parenthetical information is separate from the subject. The sentence has a singular subject (Billy<\/em>) with a singular verb (attends<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Related Topic<\/h3>\n

Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples and Rules <\/a><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Identify the subjects and the verb that agrees in the following sentences.<\/p>\n

1. Rosie and Stan [owns \/ own] a coffee shop.<\/p>\n

2. Bella or Stevie [work \/ works] the afternoon shift.<\/p>\n

3. Les, along with Buddy, [fix \/ fixes] broken guitars.<\/p>\n

4. Christopher and his brother [want \/ wants] to study fire science.<\/p>\n

5. Each word and every sentence [is \/ are] important in this document.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. Rosie<\/strong> and Stan<\/strong> own<\/strong> a coffee shop.<\/p>\n

2. Bella<\/strong> or Stevie<\/strong> works<\/strong> the afternoon shift.<\/p>\n

3. Les<\/strong>, along with Buddy, fixes<\/strong> broken guitars.<\/p>\n

4. Christopher<\/strong> and his brother<\/strong> want<\/strong> to study fire science.<\/p>\n

5. Each word<\/strong> and every sentence<\/strong> is<\/strong> important in this document.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Michael plays basketball. Jeremiah doesn’t trust pirate radio stations. Hailey dances in a ballet company. You likely recognize these statements as simple, declarative sentences that include basic components of grammar\u2014namely a singular subject and a verb that agrees. When the subject position has two or more nouns or pronouns joined by a coordinating conjunction, we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-singular-vs-plural","category-subject-and-verb-agreement"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6522"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6522"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6526,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6522\/revisions\/6526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}