This compound subject, therefore, requires a singular verb to agree with it. SUBJECT-VERB RULE #2 Two or more SINGULAR subjects joined by or (or nor) act as a singular compound subject and, therefore, take a singular verb to agree.
For example, You can't help but see how he feels about her; he wears his heart on his sleeve. Shakespeare had it in Othello (1:1): But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. People who wear their heart on their sleeve express their emotions freely and openly, for all to see.
Heart on my sleeve. Posted by ESC on May 20, 2000. In Reply to: Heart on sleeve posted by Bob on May 20, 2000. : : Where does the phrase I wear my heart on my sleeve come from. I know Shakespeare quotes it in Othello but what does it mean and where does it come from? : I don't know of any uses before Shakespeare, but there may have been. Or...