How does agreement work with conjunctions?

Agreement with conjunctions depends on the type of conjunction being used. There are two main types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions:
Coordinating conjunctions, such as "and," "but," and "or," are used to join two or more words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. When using coordinating conjunctions, the agreement is based on the subject closest to the verb.

Example 1: John and Mary are going to the party.
In this sentence, the subject closest to the verb "are" is "Mary," so the verb agrees with "Mary" in the plural form.

Example 2: The cat or the dog is responsible for the mess.
In this sentence, the subject closest to the verb "is" is "dog," so the verb agrees with "dog" in the singular form.

2. Correlative Conjunctions:
Correlative conjunctions, such as "either...or," "neither...nor," "both...and," and "not only...but also," are used to join two balanced elements. When using correlative conjunctions, the agreement is based on the subject closest to the verb, just like coordinating conjunctions.

Example 1: Either John or his friends are going to the concert.
In this sentence, the subject closest to the verb "are" is "friends," so the verb agrees with "friends" in the plural form.

Example 2: Not only the students but also the teacher is excited about the field trip.
In this sentence, the subject closest to the verb "is" is "teacher," so the verb agrees with "teacher" in the singular form.

In summary, when using conjunctions, the agreement is determined by the subject closest to the verb, whether it is a coordinating conjunction or a correlative conjunction.