List of Compound Subject Examples for High School Students

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction (and, or, nor) that share the same verb.
• ➕ When subjects are joined by "and," the verb is usually plural. Example: John and Mary are going to the store.
• ⚖️ When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Example: Neither the dog nor the cats are eating. Neither the cats nor the dog is eating.
• 📌 Pay attention to subject-verb agreement. The verb must agree in number with the compound subject.
• 💡 Sometimes, what looks like a compound subject might actually be singular. Phrases like "each and every" take a singular verb. Example: Each and every student is required to attend.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a compound subject?
   1. The cat sat on the mat.
   2. The cat and the dog sat on the mat.
   3. Sitting on the mat was the cat.
   4. The cat, which was fluffy, sat on the mat.
2. Identify the compound subject in this sentence: "My brother and I are going to the movies."
   1. My brother
   2. I
   3. My brother and I
   4. Going
3. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement for the compound subject:
   1. John and Mary is going to the party.
   2. John and Mary are going to the party.
   3. John and Mary am going to the party.
   4. John and Mary were going to the party.
4. Which sentence correctly uses "or" or "nor" with subject-verb agreement?
   1. Neither the students nor the teacher were present.
   2. Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
   3. Neither the students or the teacher was present.
   4. Neither the students or the teacher were present.
5. Find the sentence where the compound subject is NOT easily identifiable:
   1. The book and the pen are on the desk.
   2. Reading and writing are essential skills.
   3. She and he went to the store.
   4. The fluffy clouds drifted lazily by.
6. In the sentence "Each and every student is responsible," what is the subject and verb agreement?
   1. Plural subject, plural verb
   2. Singular subject, plural verb
   3. Plural subject, singular verb
   4. Singular subject, singular verb
7. Select the sentence with a compound subject that might be mistaken for a simple subject:
   1. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.
   2. Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite sandwich.
   3. Peanut butter or jelly is a good choice.
   4. Peanut butter with jelly are tasty.