Year 7: Use the correct verb – with compound subjects

Introduction

Today we’re going to learn about how to use the correct verb when you have compound subjects. A compound subject is when two or more subjects are joined together, usually by the words “and” or “or.” It’s important to know how to choose the right verb so your sentences make sense.

Key Rules

Rule 1: Compound Subjects Joined by “And”

• When two subjects are joined by “and,” use a plural verb.
• Example: “Tom and Jerry are friends.” (Both Tom and Jerry together make a plural subject.)

Rule 2: Compound Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”

• When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
• Example: “Either the teacher or the students are responsible.” (The verb “are” matches “students.”)

Rule 3: Singular and Plural Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”

• If one subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
• Example: “Neither the cat nor the dogs are outside.” (“Dogs” is plural and closest to the verb.)

Tips and Tricks

1. Think about the subjects: Identify if the subjects are singular or plural.
2. Look for joining words: Check if “and,” “or,” or “nor” is used between the subjects.
3. Match the verb: Use the verb that matches the form of the closest subject.

Practice Questions

Easy Level

1. The dog and the cat ___ sleeping. (is/are)
2. Either John or his friends ___ coming. (is/are)
3. Neither the book nor the pen ___ on the table. (is/are)
4. My brother and sister ___ at school. (is/are)
5. The cake or the cookies ___ delicious. (is/are)
6. Either the teacher or the students ___ outside. (is/are)
7. Neither the boy nor the girls ___ ready. (is/are)
8. The pen and the pencil ___ on the desk. (is/are)
9. Either Sarah or Mary ___ cooking dinner. (is/are)
10. The cup and saucer ___ broken. (is/are)
11. Neither the apple nor the bananas ___ ripe. (is/are)
12. The cat and the dog ___ playing. (is/are)
13. Either the manager or the employees ___ responsible. (is/are)
14. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ prepared. (is/are)
15. The cookies and the cake ___ ready. (is/are)
16. Either the bus or the trains ___ late. (is/are)
17. The sun and the moon ___ visible. (is/are)
18. Either the film or the books ___ interesting. (is/are)
19. Neither the car nor the bikes ___ parked. (is/are)
20. The plant and the flowers ___ wilting. (is/are)

Answers to Easy Level

1. are
2. are
3. is
4. are
5. are
6. are
7. are
8. are
9. is
10. are
11. are
12. are
13. are
14. are
15. are
16. are
17. are
18. are
19. are
20. are

Medium Level

1. The teacher and the principal ___ in a meeting. (is/are)
2. Either the dog or the cats ___ hungry. (is/are)
3. Neither the book nor the pages ___ torn. (is/are)
4. Either the singer or the band ___ performing. (is/are)
5. The artist and the writer ___ collaborating. (is/are)
6. Neither the manager nor the employees ___ satisfied. (is/are)
7. The bread and butter ___ on the table. (is/are)
8. Either the parents or the child ___ mistaken. (is/are)
9. Neither the rain nor the clouds ___ visible. (is/are)
10. The doctor and the nurse ___ on duty. (is/are)
11. Either the chairs or the table ___ broken. (is/are)
12. Neither the player nor the coach ___ happy. (is/are)
13. The house and the garden ___ beautiful. (is/are)
14. Either the teacher or the students ___ responsible for the mess. (is/are)
15. Neither the fish nor the plant ___ alive. (is/are)
16. The novel and the movie ___ interesting. (is/are)
17. Either the driver or the passengers ___ late. (is/are)
18. Neither the computer nor the phone ___ working. (is/are)
19. The book and the pen ___ missing. (is/are)
20. Either the cake or the cookies ___ burnt. (is/are)

Answers to Medium Level

1. are
2. are
3. are
4. is
5. are
6. are
7. is
8. is
9. are
10. are
11. is
12. is
13. are
14. are
15. is
16. are
17. are
18. is
19. are
20. is

High Level

1. The captain and the crew ___ ready to sail. (is/are)
2. Either the scientist or the experiments ___ incorrect. (is/are)
3. Neither the film nor the actors ___ awarded. (is/are)
4. Either the books or the library ___ open. (is/are)
5. The singer and the guitarist ___ performing together. (is/are)
6. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ informed of the changes. (is/are)
7. The pen and the paper ___ on the desk. (is/are)
8. Either the scientist or the discoveries ___ groundbreaking. (is/are)
9. Neither the athlete nor the coach ___ pleased with the result. (is/are)
10. The author and the illustrator ___ attending the event. (is/are)
11. Either the software or the hardware ___ causing the issue. (is/are)
12. Neither the musician nor the band members ___ available today. (is/are)
13. The journal and the articles ___ published monthly. (is/are)
14. Either the theories or the hypothesis ___ proven wrong. (is/are)
15. Neither the equipment nor the tools ___ suitable for the job. (is/are)
16. The artist and the curator ___ hosting the exhibition. (is/are)
17. Either the film or the documentaries ___ featured this week. (is/are)
18. Neither the recipe nor the ingredients ___ correct. (is/are)
19. The author and the editor ___ responsible for the final draft. (is/are)
20. Either the laptop or the tablets ___ malfunctioning. (is/are)

Answers to High Level

1. are
2. are
3. are
4. is
5. are
6. are
7. are
8. are
9. is
10. are
11. is
12. are
13. are
14. are
15. is
16. are
17. is
18. are
19. are
20. is

By following these rules and practicing with these questions, you should be able to correctly use verbs with compound subjects. Keep practicing and soon it will become second nature!