Greetings, potion brewers! Today we learn to bind two ingredients into one cauldron using the joining charms “and” and “or”—and discover how a single determiner can flavor the whole brew.

We talked briefly about “and” and “or” combining subjects with distributive determiners in Lesson 27. Since we have learned about the determiner phrase, adjective phrase, and nouns, it is time to explore compound subjects and the structural options available when building sentences. We’ll also look at how combining direct and indirect objects works, and how shared or separate modifier phrases influence meaning.

“And” Combining Subjects

When combining two subjects using “and,” the verb applies to both subjects. They either both perform the action or share the same state of being. The compound subject is plural, and the verb must agree with it.

Two singular subjects → plural

• The apple is ripe. The banana is ripe. → The apple and banana are ripe.
• The verb “to be” is conjugated for a plural third-person subject in the combined sentence.

Two plural subjects → plural

• The apples are ripe. The bananas are ripe. → The apples and bananas are ripe.

“Or” Combining Subjects

“Or” is used to offer alternatives, signifying that only one subject is being referenced or acted upon, not both. The verb agrees with the closest subject (also called proximity agreement or the nearest-noun rule.)

Two singular subjects → singular

• The apple or the banana is ripe.
• The verb “is” agrees with the closest subject, banana, which is singular.

Two plural subjects → plural

• The apples or the bananas are ripe.
• The verb “are” agrees with the closest subject, bananas, which is plural.

Mixed subjects → nearest noun decides

• The apple or the bananas are ripe.
• The bananas or the apple is ripe.

The verb agreement depends on the subject nearest the verb.

Determiner Phrases in Combined Subjects

1. Shared Determiner Phrase

• A shared determiner phrase placed in front of the first subject applies to both subjects.
  • Example: The apples and bananas are ripe.
• Distributive determiners (like “both”) always modify both subjects.
  • Example: Both the girl and the boy danced.

2 . Separate Determiner Phrase

• Another possibility is to use separate determiner phrases for every noun phrase.
  • Example: The apples and the bananas are ripe.
• Distributive determiners like both can appear in each phrase, but only if the nouns are plural.
  • Example: Both the girls and both the boys danced.

Notice: Shared “both” works with singulars (both the girl and the boy), but repeated “both” needs plurals (both the girls and both the boys).

Separate or Shared Adjective Phrases

In English, you may share an adjective phrase across both nouns, but to avoid ambiguity, repeat the adjective before each noun. Ambiguity means a sentence can have more than one interpretation.

1. Shared Adjective Phrase

When both subjects have the same descriptive adjective, place the adjective in front of the first subject.

• Example: The black dog and cat snuggle nightly.
  • Interpreted: The dog and the cat are black.
  • Interpreted: Only the dog is black.Separate Adjective Phrases

2. Separate Adjective Phrases

Another possibility is to use two separate adjective phrases for each noun phrase.

• Example: The black dog and black cat snuggle nightly.
• Avoids ambiguity by repeating the adjective phrase.

Direct Objects and Indirect Objects

Just like subjects, you can combine direct and indirect objects with “and” and “or.”

Examples:

• She gave Jim a book and a pencil.
• She gave Jim and Mark both a book and a pencil.
• She gave Jim or Mark a book and a pencil.
• She gave Jim a script or a transcript.

The rules for shared or separate determiner and adjective phrases apply to noun phrases functioning as direct or indirect objects too. 

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The Linguistic Debate

This brings us to an interesting debate among linguists: Does the determiner phrase set the tone for the sentence structure, or does the noun in the noun phrase?

• Example: Both the daughter and mother surrendered their wands.

One perspective says:

In the sentence above, both nouns share the determiners “both” and “the.” Does “both” signal two members?

• Agreement begins with the determiner phrase; “both” forces the entire noun phrase to be plural, and that plural subject then governs the verb.

Another perspective says:

• Your grammar processing starts with the noun first, and the determiner phrase is built around it.  
• Then, the noun phrase dictates the subject-verb agreement.

I think it’s a balancing act, analyzing both ways to make sure the sentence is grammatical.

Stop! A Second Debate

The first debate leads to a second critical-thinking question. Does a shared determiner or adjective suggest one larger noun phrase? Do different determiners or adjectives mean you’ve got two noun phrases connected by “and?”

Do you think there are two noun phrases or one noun phrase?

Notice how this ties back: if you believe the shared determiner drives agreement (the first view), you likely see one noun phrase. If you believe noun drives agreement, you likely see two noun phrases.

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Boxing in Phrases

I will continue boxing the determiner phrase inside the first subject, even though I understand it can apply to both nouns.  

You might see one noun phrase and visually prefer the dark blue determiner box to go around both nouns because your brain agrees that the determiners start the argument.

You might see one noun phrase, but the red noun phrase box wraps around the determiner phrase and both nouns.

When you have parallel structures in both phrases, most likely you will see two separate noun phrases.

Words of Wisdom

“Some memories burn from hard lessons; others burn because they could not last.”