Compound Subjects and Predicates - Lesson Online: Definition, Examples, Tests, Audio

A compound subject is a subject that consists of two or more elements joined by a conjunction. 

A compound predicate is a predicate that consists of two or more verbs or verb phrases that share the same subject.

Examples of compound subjects:

• Maria and Sam are going to the movies.
• Either the cat or the dog is responsible for the mess.
• John, Sarah, and their kids are taking a vacation.

Examples of compound predicates:

• Maria is cooking dinner and Sam is setting the table.
• The cat is meowing and the dog is barking.
• John is watching TV while Sarah is reading a book.

Practical uses for compound subjects and predicates include adding detail and complexity to a sentence, and expressing multiple actions or characteristics in one sentence.

Examples:

• Maria and Sam are going to the movies, but they are not sure what to see. (compound subject: Maria and Sam; compound predicate: are going and are not sure)
• Either the cat or the dog is responsible for the mess, but I can't tell which one. (compound subject: the cat or the dog; compound predicate: is responsible and can't tell)

Special cases to consider 

There are also special cases to consider with compound subjects and predicates. For example, when the elements in a compound subject or predicate are joined by the conjunction "or," "either...or," or "neither...nor," it is possible for one element to be singular and the other element to be plural. In this case, the verb agrees with the element that is closest to it.

Examples:

• Either Maria or her friends are going to the movies. (compound subject; verb agrees with "friends")
• Neither the cat nor the dogs are allowed on the couch. (compound subject; verb agrees with "dogs")

Comprehension exercises Compound Subjects and Predicates:

1. Identify the compound subject in the following sentence: "John and Maria are going to the store."

• Compound subject: John and Maria

2. Identify the compound predicate in the following sentence: "The cat is meowing and the dog is barking."

• Compound predicate: is meowing and is barking

3. In the following sentence, "Either the cat or the dogs are responsible for the mess," what is the compound subject?

• Compound subject: the cat or the dogs

4. Complete the following sentence with the appropriate compound predicate: "I _______ to the store, but I _______ out of gas."

• I went to the store, but I ran out of gas.

5. Choose the correct compound predicate to complete the following sentence: "The cat _______ and the dog _______, but the birds _______."

• The cat meows and the dog barks, but the birds chirp.