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e.g. Our vice· president and treasurer is a person everyone likes.Strawberries and cream is my favorite dessert.In the first example, the use of the singular verb is indicates that the compound subjectvice-president and treasurer refers to a single person. In the second example, the useof the singular verb is indicates that the compound subject strawberries and cream isbeing considered as referring to a single type of dessert.Likewise, a compound subject with and takes a singular verb when the subject is thetitle of a book or the name of a company.e.g. War and Peace is a long book.Johnson and Sons is a company which sells musical instruments.In each of the above examples a singular verb, is, is used, since the compound subjectis the name of a single thing.ii. Compound subjects with Or or NorWhen a compound subject consists of two or more nouns joined by the word or or nor,the verb agrees with the noun nearest the verb.In the following examples the verbs are singular, since the nouns nearest the verbs aresingular.e.g. A bus or a streetcar passes this point every two minutes.Neither my friend nor his brother knows what to do.Cookies or cake is available.Neither sardines nor salmon was served .In the following examples the verbs are plural, since the nouns nearest the verbs areplural.e.g. Sandals or slippers are suitable.Neither pencils nor pens were provided.Cake or cookies are available.Neither salmon nor sardines were served.When a compound subject consists of one singular noun and one plural noun joined byor or nor, it is sometimes considered advisable to place the plural noun directly beforethe verb, so that the verb will be plural.e.g. A coat or two sweaters are needed.Neither the teacher nor the students were there.In these examples, the plural nouns sweaters and teachers have been placedimmediately before the verbs, so that the verbs will be plural.The following table summarizes the rules for the agreement of verbs with compoundsubjects:Agreement of Verbs with Compound SubjectsNouns of Compound SubjectNouns referring to a single thingNouns referring to two or more thingsSingular noun nearest the verbConjunctionandandor/norVerbsingularpluralsingular