FINDING COMPOUND SUBJECTS AND VERBS
In this module, you will learn to identify
 Single subjects and compound verbs
 Compound subjects and single verbs
 Compound subjects and compound verbs.
Introduction
In "Identifying Simple Subjects and Verbs," we learned how to find simple subjects and
match them to their complete verbs. However, we've done this finding and matching with
one simple subject and one complete verb even though in some sentences we found more
than one set of subjects and verbs. We are now going to identify subjects that share verbs
and verbs that share subjects. This sharing creates what are known as COMPOUND
SUBJECTS and COMPOUND VERBS.
Compound Subjects
Sometimes two or more subjects share one verb.
Sentence:
"Mary and John found a lost cat."
We ask: Who did the finding?
The answer is "Mary" found.
So "Mary" is a simple subject of "found."
We keep asking: Who found?
Another answer to "who found" is "John."
So "John" is also a simple subject of "found."
Thus, "Mary" and "John" are the simple subjects of the complete verb "found."
Your answer format to the exercises questions that follow would be, working from left to
right, "Mary John found."
Compound Verbs
Sometimes one subject shares two or more verbs.
"Jean had reached the finish line and stumbled."
So let's go through the steps again.
We identify the complete verb, "had reached."
We ask: Who "had reached"?
Answer: "Jean."
So "Jean" is the simple subject of the complete verb "had reached."
But we keep searching for verbs.
We find another verb, "stumbled."
We ask: Who "stumbled"?
Answer: "Jean."
We see that Jean did both actions: "had reached" and "stumbled."
Thus, "had reached" and "stumbled" are the two complete verbs of the simple subject
"Jean."
Compound Subjects and Verbs
Sometimes two or more subjects share two or more verbs.
"The instructors and the students sat and waited."
Identify and match the compound subjects to their compound verbs.
We identify one complete verb as "sat."
We ask: Who/what "sat"?
Answer: "instructors" and "students."
We identify "waited" as another complete verb.
We ask: Who/what "waited"?
Answer: instructors and students waited.
Thus, we learn that the "instructors" and "students" (subjects) "sat" and "waited" (verbs).
Review
Combinations of more than one subject and more than one verb in one sentence are
called "compound subjects" and "compound verbs."
A sentence may have any number of subjects for one verb.
A sentence may have any number of verbs for one subject.
A sentence may have any number of subjects for any number of verbs.
The number of possible subjects and verbs in one sentence is limited only by your good
sense in writing.
Exercises
The following sentences contain one subject and two or three verbs. Enter the simple
subject and all its complete verbs. Work from left to right. The answers appear after the
last question.
Example: The dog ate its supper and asked for more.
Answer: dog ate asked
1. Soo Cheng Loo had danced on the stage and had sung at weddings.
Answer:
2. The guest speaker rose and began his speech.
Answer:
3. Our new teacher taught well, spoke slowly, and tried to make geometry interesting.
Answer:
The following sentences contain two or three subjects and one verb. Enter the simple
subjects and their complete verb.
Example: Dogs, cats, and rabbits make good pets.
Answer: Dog cats rabbits make
4. The tables and chairs were stacked in the corner.
Answer:
5. The lifeguard, the nurse, and the paramedic urged me to lie down and to keep warm.
Answer:
6. The police, the referee, and the umpires tried to control the fans after the game.
Answer:
The following sentences contain two or three subjects and two or three verbs. Enter the
simple subjects and their complete verbs.
Example: Mike and Mandy stood and decided to leave.
Answer: Mike Mandy stood decided
7. My brother and sister encouraged me and helped me during my illness.
Answer:
8. Management and labour discussed wages, agreed to the benefits clause, then signed
the contract.
Answer:
9. The support crews and the media followed the racing bicycles and shouted their
support.
Answer:
10. My friend and I are going to visit Vancouver and plan to see Stanley Park.
Answer:
Answers
1, Soo Cheng Loo had danced had sung. 2, speaker rose began. 3, teacher taught spoke tried. 4, tables chairs were stacked.
5, lifeguard nurse paramedic urged. 6, police referee umpires tried. 7, brother sister encouraged helped. 8, Management
labour discussed agreed signed. 9, crews media followed shouted. 10, friend I are going plan.