And, Or, Nor, As Well As: Are Compound Subjects Singular or Plural?

Neha Karve

Summary

Two or more nouns joined by and form a plural compound subject, which takes plural verbs. But when a compound subject contains or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject closest to it. Phrases like as well as do not affect grammatical number in formal writing. If the subject they are attached to is singular, it stays singular.

General rules for verbs with compound subjects

Follow these general rules to correctly use the singular or plural verb with two or more subjects joined by and, or, nor, and expressions like as well as or including:

  1. Two or more nouns joined by and are usually plural.
  2. Two or more nouns joined by or or nor may take singular or plural verbs depending on the noun closest to the verb.
  3. With expressions like as well as, together with, and including, the subject does not change in number. If it is singular, it remains singular.
Examples
  • Lulu, Rita, and Nesbit have built a spaceship in their backyard.
  • Either my mother or my sister has sent me these flowers.
  • Neither Maya nor Tumkin works full-time anymore.
  • The new as well as the old version is now available.

Agreement with and

Two or more nouns joined by the conjunction and usually form a compound subject that is plural. This subject takes plural verbs like are and have, instead of is and has.

Examples
  • Tumkin and Maya are going to Serbia.
  • My house and my car are both for sale.
  • Lulu’s necklace and other jewelry have been stolen.
  • Cats and dogs make the best companions.
  • Only you and I know this secret.

Not all words joined by and form a plural. Sometimes, two nouns are together thought of as one unit. Such a compound subject, though it contains and, is singular.

Examples
  • Your name and address is all we need to proceed.
    A person’s name and their address are often thought of as one piece of information and can then take a singular instead of plural verb.
  • Eggs and bread is all we have available.
  • Black and red is my favorite color combination.
  • My desire and wish is that the things I start with should be so obvious that you wonder why I spend my time stating them.
    Bertrand Russell, Russell’s Logical Atomism (1918)

Also, use a singular verb when a compound subject begins with each or every. (These singular determiners make the subject singular.)

Examples
  • Every human and animal has the right to live on this planet.
  • Each student and teacher receives their own login.

Agreement with or/nor

When two or more nouns are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the noun closest to it.

Examples
  • A cat or a dog is the perfect companion.
    not “a cat or a dog are
  • Either his parents or his sister knows where he is.
    Although “his parents” is plural, we use the singular “knows” because the part of the compound subject closest to the verb is “his sister” (his sister knows).
  • Neither black nor red is my favorite color.
    not “neither black nor red are
  • Neither Anita nor I have read this book.
    Since the word closest to the verb is “I,” we match the verb to this subject. Use “have read” (for I have read) instead of “has read.”
Tip

With compound subjects, agreement with the verb can sometimes sound odd. For example, because the first phrase in “Either his parents or his sister knows where he is” is plural, using “knows” instead of “know” can sound awkward. Don’t be afraid to rewrite such a sentence.

Examples
  • Awkward: Either his parents or his sister knows where he is.
  • Better: Either his sister or his parents know where he is.

Agreement with as well as, together with, including

When an expression like as well as, together with, or including adds to the subject of a sentence, it does not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, it stays singular and takes the singular verb.

Examples
  • My friend, as well as her entire family, is moving to Fiji.
    The subject (my friend) is singular. Use the singular verb is rather than the plural verb are.
  • Flashing red lights as well as a sign on the beach warn tourists of danger.
    The subject (flashing red lights) is plural. Use the plural verb warn rather than the singular verb warns.
  • My sister, together with her partner, is traveling to Bali.
  • All the tickets, including yours, have been booked.

Note that some writers and speakers feel more comfortable using as well as with plural verbs. This is because of notional agreement: agreement based on actual rather than grammatical number. When using a connective like as well as, you do refer to multiple things or people. Based on meaning rather than grammatical form, using the plural verb is not incorrect.

Example
  • My sister as well as my parents are coming to the wedding.

But grammatically, as well as is not the same as and. It does not form a compound subject: it simply adds to the existing subject. When you have a singular subject in formal usage, use commas to enclose the additional phrase. This will help your readers identify the real subject. Then use the grammatically correct singular verb.

Example
  • A large sign, as well as flashing red lights, warns tourists of danger.
    The subject is singular (a large sign). Commas separate the additional phrase from the subject. Use the singular verb warns rather than the plural verb warn.

With a plural subject, don’t use commas around the additional phrase.

Example
  • Flashing red lights as well as a large sign warn tourists of danger.
    Both notional agreement (the number of things being referred to) and the grammatical subject (flashing red lights) indicate use of the plural verb warn.
Tip

When grammatical and notional agreement collide, things can get ugly. If a sentence with as well as sounds awkward, consider rephrasing.

Example
  • Awkward: My manager, as well as my teammates, has been reassigned.
    The noun before the singular verb has is plural (teammates), which makes the sentence sound odd.
    Better: My manager and my teammates have been reassigned.

Verbs with compound subjects in questions

To check whether to use a singular or plural verb with a compound subject in a question, frame the answer. Then use the same verb in the question as you would in the answer.

Examples
  • Who are Tumkin and Maya?
    The answer would be “Tumkin and Maya are . . .” As we know, two nouns joined by and form a plural subject. Since the answer takes “are,” so does the question.
  • Is Anita or Lulu in your class?
    The answer would be “Anita or Lulu is . . .,” since two singular nouns joined by or form a singular compound subject. Use the same verb “is” in the question.

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