This handout gives you several guidelines to help your subjects. 1 When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb. 2 When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb. 3 When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.