Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates

• A sentence may have more than one simple subject or simple predicate

• A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects that have the same predicate. The subjects may be joined by and, or, both...and, either.... or, or neither......nor.

Example:

• Charlotte Bronte and Emily Bronte were sisters.

• Compound Subject: Charlotte Bronte and Emily Bronte

Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates

• When the two simple subjects are joined by and or by both...and, the compound subject is plural. Use the plural form of the verb to agree with the plural compound subject.

• When the simple subjects are joined by or, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb must agree with the nearer simple subject.

Example:

• Neither Charlotte nor Emily is my favorite author.

• Neither Charlotte nor Emily is my favorite author.

• Emily is the nearest subject, so the singluar form of the verb is used.

Example:

• Neither her sisters nor Charlotte was outgoing.

• Neither her sisters nor Charlotte was outgoing.

• Charlotte is the nearer subject, so the singular form of the verb is used here.

Example:

• Neither Charlotte nor her sisters were outgoing.

• Neither Charlotte nor her sisters were outgoing.

• Sisters is the nearer subject, so the plural form of the verb is used,

Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates

• A compound predicate consists of two or more simple predicates, or verbs, that have the same subject. The verbs may be connected by and, or, but, both ...and, either....or, or neither....nor.

Example:

• Many students read and enjoy novels.

• Many students read and enjoy novels.

• The compound predicate in this sentence consists of read and enjoy. Both verbs agree with the plural subject, students.

Let's Practice:

• Select the correct form of the verb in parentheses.