english grammar

i know that my knowledge of english grammar is not what it should be. but i cant even remember the last time i studied it at school. must have been in primary school...

anyways i still find it kind of insulting when a japanese person who i have never actually heard speak a grammatically correct english sentance telling me that what i have written in english in wrong.

Correct me if i am wrong, but
Below the motif are the roof and the compartment for the light.

should not be
Below the motif is the roof and the compartment for the light.

When you have 2 things you have to use "are" i thought.
tell me what you think. i might be way off here...