A topic is without doubt one of the two most important grammatical components of a sentence or clause (the opposite is the predicate). The topic is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that the sentence is about. It controls the verb of the sentence—both by performing the motion that the verb describes or by being described by the verb and the remainder of the predicate working collectively.

When you will have two or extra nouns or pronouns collectively working as a topic, it’s known as a compound topic.

What’s a compound topic?

A compound topic is 2 or extra nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases appearing collectively as the topic of a clause or sentence. Often, they’re linked by a coordinating conjunction. Listed here are some examples of sentences with compound topics:

• Jack and Jill went up the hill.
• Neither Mia nor Ben wished to go to the library to review.
• Every single day this week, the climate or my work has saved me from going for a run exterior.

Word that the easy topics of the sentences above are simply the 2 nouns, with out the conjunctions or any further phrases like articles or adjectives. So Jack and Jill are the straightforward topics of the primary sentence; Mia and Ben are the straightforward topics of the second; and climate and work are the straightforward topics of the third.

How are compound topics used?

Compound topics are helpful once you wish to relate that a number of nouns are performing a single motion or once you wish to describe a number of nouns which are intently associated. They are often present in easy, compound, complicated, and compound-complex sentence constructions:

• Each canoes and kayaks can be found there.
• You may lease canoes and kayaks there, however the shuttle and the campsite must be booked individually.
• The canoes and kayaks which are accessible there are often in good situation.
• The primary clothes shop that we visited was closed, however after we left there Mick and Bohai advised us about one other one.

The person elements of compound topics might be singular, plural, or a mix of the 2:

• A jacket and a shawl will maintain you heat.
• Sheets and towels might be washed in scorching water.
• A greenback invoice or some quarters would come in useful for this parking meter.

Compound topics and verbs

In all probability the trickiest factor about utilizing a compound topic in your writing is determining what verb type to make use of with it. As all the time in English grammar, subject-verb settlement is crucial, however with a compound topic, it’s not all the time apparent whether or not a singular or plural verb is known as for. Listed here are the overall guidelines to observe.

Compound topics with and

When the weather of a compound topic are linked with the coordinating conjunction and, that topic is sort of all the time plural and requires a plural verb:

• The guitar and the piano each want tuning.
• Books and papers had been piled on the desk.
• A yo-yo and a few puzzles maintain my eight-year-old occupied.

There are a few exceptions to the above rule. When the components of a compound topic are joined by and however symbolize a single idea or entity, they’re singular and take a singular verb:

A bagel and cream cheese is one among my favourite breakfasts.

When a compound topic makes use of and and is modified by every or each, the topic is singular and takes a singular verb:

• Every canine and cat on the shelter is vaccinated.
• Each portray and {photograph} on the wall was an authentic.

Compound topics with or and nor

When a compound topic consists of two singular components linked by the coordinating conjunction or or nor (usually with both or neither), it’s singular and desires a singular verb:

• Paz or Miguel leads the assembly most evenings.
• Neither Monday nor Tuesday works for me to have lunch.

When a compound topic consists of two plural components linked by or or nor, it takes a plural verb:

• Wednesdays or Thursdays are typically higher for me.
• Neither Mondays or Tuesdays are often free for me.

When a compound topic consists of 1 singular and one plural component linked by or or nor, the verb ought to agree with the component closest to it:

• Some apple slices or a granola bar is sufficient to tide Otto over until dinner.
• Neither a granola bar nor some apple slices are sufficient to eat for dinner after a soccer recreation.

Compound topic impostors to be careful for

Generally a singular topic is modified by a phrase utilizing a connector like together with, in addition to, along with, or along with. Though this will appear to be a compound topic and talk the identical thought {that a} compound topic utilizing and would, it isn’t grammatically compound and due to this fact takes a singular, not a plural, verb:

The porch in addition to the driveway is slippery.

Even trickier and extra awkward is when the in addition to–sort phrase places a plural noun between the singular topic and the singular verb:

The porch, in addition to the steps, is slippery.

Though the above sentence is technically grammatically appropriate, having the plural noun steps come earlier than the singular verb is in all probability sounds so off to most individuals that it’s higher to rewrite it with an precise compound topic:

The porch and the steps are slippery.

5 extra examples of compound topics

• Marcus and I are cousins.
• Rabbits and guinea pigs each make good pets.
• Neither cat fur nor canine fur triggers Mai’s allergic reactions.
• Both the homework or the chores will not be going to get performed tonight.
• Chairs or stools are sometimes arrange within the room earlier than we get there.

Compound topic FAQs

What’s a compound topic?

A compound topic is 2 or extra nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases appearing collectively as the topic of a clause or sentence. Often, they’re linked by a coordinating conjunction.

What sorts of sentence constructions can use compound topics?

Compound topics might be present in easy, compound, complicated, and compound-complex sentences.

How are you aware if a compound topic takes a singular or plural verb?

• Compound topics utilizing and almost all the time take a plural verb.
• Compound topics with two singular components linked by or or nor take a singular verb.
• Compound topics with two plural components linked by or or nor take a plural verb.
• When a compound topic has one singular component and one plural component linked by or or nor, the verb ought to agree in quantity with the a part of the topic it’s closest to.

Are together with, in addition to, along with, or along with used to type compound topics?

No. These connective phrases don’t work like and to create a compound topic, so when they’re used so as to add one other noun to a singular topic, solely the singular topic has to agree with the verb.