Compound Verb

If a subject of a sentence has more than one verb, that verb is called a compound verb. A sentence can have a compound subject as well.

Parts of a Sentence

All sentences have to have a subject and a predicate. Here are explanations and examples of subjects and predicates.

A sentence is a complete thought and the subject of the sentence is the star of that thought. A subject can be a single noun or pronoun and it would be called a simple subject. Nouns name things that are alive or dead, places, and ideas. They can be proper, like “John”, or common, like “beliefs.”

A subject can also be a group of words, like: “The big house is over there”, “Eating is fun”, “To wonder about things is part of learning”, or “That I knew the facts earlier did not help me accept them.” Sometimes the subject is implied, like in “Get in the house!” 

The predicate of a sentence tells what the subject is doing or being. It can also be a single word or a group of words. A single verb would be a simple predicate. A predicate includes modifiers of the verb or can be a phrase or clause.  Examples include: “He talked”, “I read a book”, “The group elected him chairman”, and “She swam in the river”. Examples of a phrase which acts as a predicate is: “He is the king of France.” When an adjective is used as a predicate, it is called a predicate adjective. In the example: “She is attractive.” the predicate adjective is “attractive”. The linking verb in the last two examples is the word “is.”

What Is a Compound Verb

Compound verbs are two or more verbs which are joined with a coordinating conjunction. The coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. An easy way to remember these is the first letter of each word spells “fanboys.” 

Combining verbs helps make the text flow and not sound choppy with short sentences. It saves time and space, it is not necessary, and will actually make the text easier to understand. Following are examples of sentences with compound verbs with the verbs underlined: 

• He writes songs and appeared on The Tonight Show.
• Yesterday, we ate pizza and watched a movie. 
• The pitcher looked at the catcher, adjusted his hat, squinted, and threw the ball. 
• The soccer team played and lost their season opener.
• The chocolate cake is moist and delicious.
• We neither understand nor approve his actions.
• My dog likes to have his belly rubbed but hates going to the vet.
• Every evening I either watch television or read a book. 
• She loves apples yet hates apple cobbler.
• I love to sing so I joined the choir.

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects are just like compound predicates except they are nouns and pronouns.  The most common coordinating conjunctions are: and, nor, or, and but.  Following are some examples of sentences with compound subjects.

• Steve, Gary, and Michelle were all picked for the team.
• Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina were highly damaging storms.
• Neither pizza nor hamburgers are good for you.
• Neither the bathroom nor the kitchen has been mopped.
• Either lightning or a cigarette caused the fire.
• Either you or your sister are guilty.
• All the cookies but half of the cupcakes were eaten.
• Most of the players but only a few spectators got wet in the rain. 

Compound Sentences

Compound sentences are two sentences joined by a linking word (coordinating conjunction), like: and, but, or, and so. The word “and” shows the two sentences are similar in type and meaning, while the word “but” shows they have opposite ideas. The word “or” shows a choice between sentences, and the word “so” denotes that the second sentence has a result that is as important as the first sentence. Examples are: 

• She tried to sell the jacket but her husband put it back in the closet.
• Sally went to the play and Dick stayed home.
• I spent all my savings so I can’t go on a cruise.
• He will mow the lawn or he may take a nap.