Subject Verb Agreement Flashcards
If there is a compound subject and joining the two subjects is the word and would you use a plural verb or a singular verb.
Ex: Bob and Susan (is/are) eating pie.
You would use plural unless it is one unit such as peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.
Is this sentence correct?
They is eating pie.
No. Because they is a plural subject, there can’t be a singular verb which “is” is because no plural verb can end in “s”. The correct sentence would be: they ARE eating pie.
What is the verb rule when you have a compound subject joined by the word or.
Ex: Bob or Susan are eating pie.
You look at the subject word closest to the verb, which is Susan, and decide whether or not it is singular or plural. Susan is one person so it is singular and you would use a singular verb. If the subject is plural then there you will use a plural verb.
