Which sentence is grammatically correct? The nurse and patient are attending rounds. or The nurse and patient is attending rounds.?

Which sentence is grammatically correct? The nurse and patient are attending rounds. or The nurse and patient is attending rounds.?

• A. The nurse and patient are attending rounds.
• B. The nurse and patient is attending rounds.
• C. Nurse and patient are attending rounds.
• D. Patient and nurse are attending rounds.

Answer: (D)

When two singular nouns are joined by and, they form a plural subject, so the verb must be plural. That’s why the form with Patient and nurse are attending rounds is correct—the plural subject requires the plural verb are, not is. The order of the nouns doesn’t change the agreement, so Nurse and patient or The nurse and patient would still take are. The key point is matching the plural subject with the plural verb to keep the sentence grammatically correct.

When two singular nouns are joined by and, they form a plural subject, so the verb must be plural. That’s why the form with Patient and nurse are attending rounds is correct—the plural subject requires the plural verb are, not is. The order of the nouns doesn’t change the agreement, so Nurse and patient or The nurse and patient would still take are. The key point is matching the plural subject with the plural verb to keep the sentence grammatically correct.