🔥 Adaanist Grammar Rule #2 | Multiple Subjects with "and"

Rule #2: When two or more singular subjects are joined by "and", the verb should be plural.

Author

Shah Adaan Uzzaman
June 23, 2025

Rule #2: When two or more singular subjects are joined by "and", the verb should be plural.

❌ The book and the pen is on the desk.

✅ The book and the pen are on the desk.

🤔 Why "are" is correct?

Because two singular subjects connected by "and" create a plural subject, needing a plural verb.

👉 Simple logic:

One thing: singular verb (is, was, has).

Two or more things connected with "and": plural verb (are, were, have).

🎓 Remember: Always count clearly. Two or more items joined by "and" always use plural verbs!

🧨Trap #2: Combining Singular Nouns

Tests often trick students by combining singular nouns in ways that feel singular. You see familiar singular nouns and assume the verb should be singular too!

Your job is to remember that two or more singular nouns joined by "and" make the subject plural.

The teacher and the student writes/write notes.

Correct: "write" (teacher and student together make two people)

My tactic is pretty simple, and I implement it in 3 stages:

  1. Identify each noun clearly.

  2. Look for the conjunction "and."

  3. If "and" connects multiple items, choose a plural verb.

🚫 If a verb ends in "s", that doesn’t necessarily mean the verb is plural.

For example: "He walks."

Here, the verb "walks" ends in "s", but it is actually a singular verb that matches the singular subject "he".

🔁 Shortcut

🎯 Subject 1 + "and" + Subject 2 = Plural Verb

🧨 How to Intuitively Identify the Real Subject?

Pop Art GIF by Xinanimodelacra

Gif by primevideo on Giphy

Think logically and ask the meaning of the sentence:

  • Ask: "Is the sentence talking about one or multiple subjects or items?"

  • Multiple items = plural verb. Trust your understanding of quantity.

💥 Examples

Quoting The Simpsons GIF

Gif by primevideo on Giphy

🔸 Example #1

The recipe book and the spice jar was / were left open on the counter overnight.

✅ Correct: were, because "recipe book" and "spice jar" are two separate items.

🔸 Example #2

An email from the manager and a report from HR has / have caused confusion among employees.

✅ Correct: have, because there are two separate items causing confusion.

🔸 Example #3 (Rule #1 & #2 In Action)

The gardener and his assistant, along with the new intern, works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

✅ Correct: work, because "gardener" + "assistant" are two distinct subjects connected by "and," and thus plural.

🤔 You may think what about the example we studied in the Adaanist Grammar Rule #1 | Subject-Verb Agreement. We have seen the following example there:

In the example from Rule #1, we have considered the phrase “along with her team” as extra, and ignored it to decide what the main verb should be. So what is different in the example we are discussing in Rule #2?

Let’s compare the following 2 sentences:

Rule #1

Rule #2

Explanations

The gardener, along with the new intern, works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

The gardener and his assistant, along with the new intern, works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

Given Sentence/Question

The gardener, along with the new intern, works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

The gardener and his assistant, along with the new intern, works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

🔥 Remember our strategy from Rule #1?


We crossed off extra words in a sentence.


“Along with the new intern” - extra words. Let’s remove it.

The gardener works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

The gardener and his assistant works / work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

Now, we have a leaner sentence.

The gardener works tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

The gardener and his assistant work tirelessly in the garden each weekend.

In the left column, only one subject remains after removing the extra words - “the gardener.” So the verb will also be singular - “works.”


But in the middle column, we are witnessing both Rule #1 and #2 in action.  



1. We have used Rule #1 to cross off or ignore extra words in a sentence.



2. Then, we can see there are 2 subjects still remaining: “the gardener,” and “his assistant.” And both of these subjects are connected by “and”.


Two subjects joined by “and” → plural verb → “work”

🔸 Example 4

My math textbook and my calculator is / are essential during exams.

✅ Correct: are, because textbook and calculator together form multiple essential items.)

🔸 Example 5 (Tricky Scenario)

The CEO and founder of the company is / are speaking at the event tomorrow.

 ✅ Correct: is, here "CEO and founder" refers to one person holding two titles, making the subject singular.

Reply

or to participate.