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Question 问
What makes a compound subject singular or plural in a sentence?
是什么使复合主语在句子中成为单数或复数?
Answer 答
A compound subject is made up of two or more simple subjects joined by a conjunction (such as and, or, or nor):
复合主语由两个或两个以上的简单主语用连词(如and, or, or nor)连接而成:
· books and movies 书籍和电影
· Cookies or cake 饼干或蛋糕
· (not) you nor I 不是你，也不是我
· she and her mother 她和她的母亲
· South America or Australia 南美洲或澳大利亚
To know whether you should use a singular or plural verb with a compound subject, you need to look at the word that joins the elements of the compound subject.
要知道复合主语是单数动词还是复数动词，你需要看看连接复合主语元素的单词。
If they are joined by and, use a plural verb.
如果它们由and连接，则使用复数动词。
· A cat and a dog are walking down the street.
· 一只猫和一只狗正在街上走。
· Cake and ice cream sound delicious.
· 蛋糕和冰淇淋听起来很好吃。
· Teachers and students ride the bus on field trips.
· 老师和学生乘公共汽车进行实地考察。
If they are joined by or, the verb agrees with the element closest to it.
如果它们由or连接，则动词与最接近的元素一致。
· (Either) Mom or Dad is picking me up today. [Dad is singular, so the verb is singular.]
· 今天不是妈妈就是爸爸来接我。[Dad是单数，所以动词也是单数。]
· A rooster or chickens are making noise in that coop. [Chickens is plural, so the verb is plural.]
· 一只或几只公鸡在鸡笼里吵闹。[Chickens是复数，所以动词是复数。]
If they are joined by nor, the verb agrees with the element closest to it.
如果它们用nor连接，则动词与最接近的元素一致。
· Neither John nor I dance well.
· 约翰和我跳舞都不好。
· Neither the teacher nor the students know what the weather will be like next week.
· 老师和学生都不知道下周天气会怎样。
Additionally, if a compound subject is preceded by each or every, the verb should be singular.
此外，如果复合主语前面有each或every，动词应该是单数。
· Each student and parent has an appointment with the teacher.
· 每个学生和家长都和老师有一个约会。
· Every car and truck is inspected by quality control before being sold.
· 每辆汽车和卡车在出售前都要经过质量控制部门的检查。
Finally, when a compound subject acts as a single unit (this will be things that are commonly considered one thing, even though they have the structure of "A and B"), use a singular verb.
最后，当复合主语作为一个单一单位时(这是指通常被认为是一件事的事物，即使它们有“A和B”的结构)，使用单数动词。
· Cookies and cream is my favorite ice cream flavor.
· 饼干加奶油是我最喜欢的冰淇淋口味。
· Cops and robbers was a common childhood game when I was a kid.
· 警察和强盗是我小时候常见的游戏。
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