Compound Subject and Verb

Subject-Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects, Indefinite Pronouns, Inverted Order

by Carly Gelles

​Compound Subjects

​When compound subjects are joined by or, nor, either/or, or neither/nor, the verb agrees with the CLOSER subject.

​

​Ex. Susanna or Dell is going to teach the computer class.

​Either the road or the sidewalks have been slated for repaving

​Neither Art nor his brothers have ever owned a car.

​Neither the Lings nor their son plans to purchase a new smartphone.

​Compound Subjects

​When compound subjects are joined by and or both/and, the verb is plural.

​

​​Ex. Ted's shovel and rake were missing from the shed.

​A rose and two irises were chosen best in the garden show.

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​The Exceptions

​Like every rule in English, there are exceptions to the rule. The EXCEPTIONS are if the subjects joined by and refer to only one person or thing, or when every or each come before a compound subject that is joined by and. In this situation, each subject is considered separately.

​

​Ex. Cheese and crackers is my favorite snack. (It's one snack)

​Every man and woman is encouraged to register to vote.

​Each tree and bush was infested with insects.

Multiple Choice

Bagels and lox (is, are) a favorite meal for breakfast.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Every man, woman, and child (was, were) rescued.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Either Ron or his parents (is, are) going to pay.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Neither President Washington nor President Truman (was, were) a college graduate.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Each peach and plum in this bowl (is, are) ripe.

• is

• are

​Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

​A verb must agree in number with an indefinite pronoun used as a subject.

​Common Indefinite Pronouns

​Singular: anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, neither, no one, one, somebody, someone

​Ex. One of the students was asked to stay after school.

​Plural: both, few, many, several

​Ex. Few of my friends are going the game this weekend.

​Singular OR Plural: all, any, most, none, some

​Ex. Someof the water was spilled.

​Some of the pyramids were looted.

Multiple Choice

Anyone (is, are) eligible for the computer course.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Most of us (go, goes) out for track.

• go

• goes

Multiple Choice

Everybody (has, have) to pass the swimming test to graduate.

• has

• have

​Subjects in Inverted Order

​Most sentences are in natural order, with the subject coming before the verb. Some sentences, though, are in inverted order, with the subject following the verb or part of the verb phrase. Regardless of where a subject is located in a sentence, the verb must agree with it.

​

​There are several types of inverted sentences. To find the subject in an inverted sentence, turn the sentence around to its natural order.

​Examples

In the examples, the subject will be underlined, and the verb will be italicized.​

​Inverted Order

​​Hidden for centuries in Cambodia's tropical jungle was the mysterious city known as Angkor Thom.

​Questions

​Was the algebra equation solved before class ended?

​Are the chemicals stored safely in the cabinet?

​Sentences Beginning with Here or There

​There were too many people crowded into the gallery.

​Common Mistakes

​BE CAREFUL when using contractions in a sentence that begins with there.

​

​INCORRECT: There's 400 apples in that box.

​

​When the sentence is put in natural order, "Four hundred apples is in that box," the correct usage becomes clear.

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​CORRECT: There are 400 applels in that box.

Multiple Choice

Which word represents the subject of the sentence?

On the Egyptian woman's head was tall water jog. 

• woman

• head

• jug

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

Were you ever in a desert after a rain?

• Were

• you

• desert