Coordinated subjects: and — plural, or/nor — by the nearest

Gist. Two or more subjects joined by and take a plural verb: John and Mary are here. Joined by or/nor — they agree with the nearest: Neither you nor I am concerned, Either the boys or the teacher is coming.

Conditions and exceptions. Singular with and when two names denote one whole (Bread and butter is my breakfast) or when preceded by each, every, no (Every phrase and every figure tends…). As well as, with, together with, not do not form a coordinated subject: Veracity, as well as justice, is our rule. In there is a force and beauty the text often keeps the singular. So the rule only warns.

Examples. He and I are friends. — Their sense of humour and calmness amazes me (singular despite and — a feature of the text). — The ship, with all her furniture, was destroyed.

In UD. A coordinated subject is the first conjunct as nsubj, the rest are conj to it with cc. A VBZ verb with an nsubj that has a conj via and is suspicious (except clauses with expl).

Sources. Brown 1851, Rule XVI ("agree with them jointly in the plural") and Notes II–IV; Rule XVII and Note I ("agree with the nearest"; books/b/br/brown-1851-grammar-english-grammars, text-1); Reed & Kellogg, Higher Lessons, Lesson 20 (Compound subject), Lesson 142; UD docs/_en/specific-syntax.md, Coordination.

rule: en.verbal.vbz-and-subject
what: VBZ with a subject coordinated by and — suspected non-agreement or false coordination
match: v[xpos=VBZ]; s[rel=nsubj|nsubj:pass, head=v]; c[rel=conj, head=s]; k[rel=cc, form=and, head=c]
require: exists e[rel=expl, head=v]
severity: warn
source: Brown 1851 Rule XVI

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