What is Agreement with Compound Antecedents? Definition & Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🤝 Agreement in grammar means that words like verbs and pronouns match the nouns they refer to (their antecedents) in number (singular or plural).
• ➕ Compound Antecedents are two or more nouns joined by a conjunction (like 'and', 'or', 'nor').
• 🔗 When a compound antecedent is joined by 'and', it usually takes a plural verb and plural pronoun. Example: *John and Mary are going to the store; they need milk.*
• ✂️When parts of a compound antecedent are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb and pronoun agree with the antecedent closest to them. Example: *Neither the students nor the teacher is happy with the test.*
• ⚠️ If each or every precedes the compound subjects joined by *and*, treat the subjects as singular. Example: *Every boy and girl has completed the assignment.*

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence demonstrates correct agreement with a compound antecedent joined by 'and'?
   1. John and Mary is going to the park.
   2. John and Mary are going to the park.
   3. John and Mary am going to the park.
   4. John and Mary were going to the park, but she changed her mind.
2. Which sentence demonstrates correct agreement with a compound antecedent joined by 'or'?
   1. Neither the cat nor the dogs is eating their food.
   2. Neither the cat nor the dogs are eating its food.
   3. Neither the cat nor the dogs are eating their food.
   4. Neither the cat nor the dogs am eating its food.
3. Choose the sentence with correct pronoun agreement:
   1. The dog and cat chased its tail.
   2. The dog and cat chased her tail.
   3. The dog and cat chased their tail.
   4. The dog and cat chased his tail.
4. Which sentence uses the correct verb form?
   1. My sister and I is planning a trip.
   2. My sister and I are planning a trip.
   3. My sister and I am planning a trip.
   4. My sister and I were planning a trip, but I changed my mind.
5. Identify the correct sentence:
   1. Either the president or the vice president are going to speak.
   2. Either the president or the vice president is going to speak.
   3. Either the president or the vice president am going to speak.
   4. Either the president or the vice president be going to speak.
6. Which sentence correctly handles a compound antecedent modified by 'each'?
   1. Each student and teacher have a say.
   2. Each student and teacher has a say.
   3. Each student and teacher are having a say.
   4. Each student and teacher is having a say, but not together.
7. Which sentence has incorrect agreement?
   1. The book and the pen are on the table.
   2. The book or the pen is on the table.
   3. Neither the book nor the pens is on the table.
   4. Neither the book nor the pens are on the table.