Question

Choose the option that supplies the correct verb and the correct explanation for the verb choice in the following sentence: The window fans and the air conditioner _____ stored in the walk-in closet downstairs.
(A) The verb should be is. When two subjects are joined by and, they are considered separate subjects and the verb should agree with the subject closest to it, air conditioner.
(B) The verb should be are. When two subjects are joined by and, they are considered separate subjects, and the verb should agree with the subject listed first in the sentence, window fans.
(C) The verb should be is. When a compound subject is followed by a prepositional phrase, the verb should agree with the object of the preposition, closet.
(D) The verb should be are because a compound subject joined by and always requires a plural form of the verb.

Answer 1

Answer:

(D) The verb should be are because a compound subject joined by and always requires a plural form of the verb.

Explanation:

A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects that share a verb or verb phrase. These subjects are joined by a conjunction such as and, or, or nor, etc.

Since the two objects mentioned ( i.e window fans and air conditioner) are two different objects that cannot be combined to be one, the sentence is a plural compound sentence and not a singular compound sentence. "Are" is the appropriate conjunction to use.

Answer 2

Answer:

D

Explanation:

A compound subject is a subject made up of two or more simple subjects that are joined by a coordinating conjunction and have the same predicate.

Verb = doing word/word that represents action

Predicate = state, affirm or assert something about the subject of a sentence.

Subject = person, place, thing etc. in a sentence.

Conjunction = used to connect words, phrases, clauses or sentences.

Coordinating conjunction = conjunction placed between words, phrases, clauses and sentences of equal rank eg. and/but/or.

In this case fans and air conditioner are subjects and even though they are both singular, now that they are joined by the word "and", they are now part of a plural structure. as a result the plural verb "are" has to be used in this sentence.