Compound Subjects

Lesson 3

Objective:(What You Will Learn)•To recognize and write compound subjects that agree with their verbs.

Here’s the Idea:A compound subject is made up of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as and, but, or, or nor.

Subjects joined by andWhen two or more subjects are joined by and, the verb is plural.

Subjects joined by andBoth the mayor and the governor have offices downtown.

Subjects joined by Or or Nor

When joined by or or nor, look at the subject (noun) after or or nor.

Subjects joined by Or or NorNeither work nor tasks suit Matt very well.

Neither tasks nor work suits Matt very well.

1. Sarah and Shelby (walk, walks) to school.

2. Neither shoes nor jackets (fit, fits) in the lockers.

3. Elephants and rhinos (live, lives) in the jungle.

4. Odie or Vanessa (know, knows) the answer.

5. Both trees and flowers (require, requires) sunlight.

6. Neither a mop nor sponge (absorb, absorbs) the spill.

7. Either you or I (need, needs) to finish the project.

8. The jacket and the backpack (is, are) laying on the floor.

ClosureToday you learned to recognize and write compound subjects that agree with their verbs.