English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Use the correct verb – with compound subjects
Use the correct verb – with compound subjects
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify compound subjects in sentences.
Distinguish between singular and plural verb forms.
Apply the subject-verb agreement rule for compound subjects joined by 'and'.
Apply the subject-verb agreement rule for compound subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'.
Correctly choose the verb that agrees with a given compound subject.
Explain the reasoning behind their verb choice for compound subjects.
Have you ever wondered if 'The dog and cat *is* sleeping' or 'The dog and cat *are* sleeping'? 🤔 Let's clear up that confusion!
In this lesson, you'll learn how to make verbs agree with compound subjects – those tricky subjects made of two or more parts. Mastering this skill will make your writing clearer an...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SubjectThe noun or pronoun in a sentence that performs the action or is being described.In 'The *bird* sings,' 'bird' is the subject.
VerbA word that describes an action, a state of being, or an occurrence.In 'The bird *sings*,' 'sings' is the verb.
Compound SubjectTwo or more subjects joined by a conjunction (like 'and', 'or', 'nor') that share the same verb.*My brother and I* love pizza.
Subject-Verb AgreementThe rule that states a subject and its verb must match in number; a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.The *cat sleeps* (singular subject, singular verb); The *cats sleep* (plural subject, plural verb).
ConjunctionA word used to connect words, ph...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Rule 1: Compound Subjects Joined by 'And'
When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction 'and', they usually form a plural subject and require a plural verb.
Think of 'and' as adding things together. If you have more than one thing, it's plural, so the verb should also be plural. This is the most common scenario for 'and'.
Rule 2: Compound Subjects Joined by 'Or' or 'Nor'
When two or more subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it.
With 'or' and 'nor', you're choosing between subjects, not adding them. So, the verb 'looks' to the subject right before it to decide if it should be singular or plural....
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Challenging
A student wrote: 'Either the charts or the main article explain the data.' Why is this sentence grammatically incorrect?
A.The verb 'explain' does not agree with the closer subject 'article'.
B.The conjunction 'or' requires a singular verb no matter what.
C.The subject 'charts' is plural, so the verb must always be plural.
D.The verb should be in the past tense, 'explained'.
Challenging
Which sentence correctly treats the compound subject as a single idea?
A.The bow and arrow were the archer's favorite tools.
B.The thunder and lightning scares my dog.
C.Rock and roll is a genre of music that originated in the 1950s.
D.The salt and the pepper are on the table.
Challenging
Original sentence: 'The author's purpose and the central theme is explored in the essay.' How should this sentence be revised for correct subject-verb agreement?
A.The author's purpose and the central theme was explored in the essay.
B.The author's purpose or the central theme is explored in the essay.
C.The author's purposes and the central themes are explored in the essay.
D.The author's purpose and the central theme are explored in the essay.
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