Download Subject/Verb (Compound) Recognition Practice Definition: Subject

Subject/Verb (Compound) Recognition Practice
Definition:
Subject: A noun or pronoun that is the "topic" of the sentence. It tells who or
what does the action or "is" (state of being)
Verb: An action word or state of being (existence) word.
Compound: two or more (in science, a compound consist of using two or more
elements together, such as H2O (water)) so, in English grammar, when we have two or
more subjects, two or more verbs, two or more direct objects, etc., we say that they
are compound subjects, compound verbs, compound direct objects, etc. The
compounds are generally joined by just a coordinating conjunction, (and, or, nor, but,
yet) or by correlative (paired) conjunctions like: both -- and, neither -- nor; either -- or;
etc. Sometimes they are separated by other words, so one has to look carefully for the
compounds.
Examples:
Both Mary and John will go to the dance tonight.
Compound subject: Mary,John -- joined by a correlative conjunction, both --and
Jane wrote the report and gave it to her teacher.
Compound predicate or compound verb: wrote, gave -- joined by a
coordinating conjunction, and.
Either Joe or Sam will paint the mural for the gym and then start the one for the
art room.
Compound subject & compound verb (predicate):
Compound subject: Joe, Sam: joined by correlative conjunction, either -- or
Compound verb or predicate: will paint, start: joined by the coordinating
conjunction, and.
Exercise: Write down on your paper, the compound subjects and/or compound verbs
(predicates) in the following sentences. There may be a sentence or two without any
compound. Be careful.
1. Gary and John practiced a piano duet for tomorrow's concert.
2. Emma turned slowly but replied with a loud voice.
3. Most dogs and cats make good house pets.
4. The sun appeared this morning and then disappeared this afternoon.
5. The ducks swam to the island and sat on the shore.
6. Both the store on my corner and the shop next door to it closed today.
7. All of a sudden, our dog ran to the door and listened intently
8. The carpenters measured and cut the wood.
9. Cheryl and Mark went to Florida for their vacation and visited relatives.
10. The kettle gurgled and sputtered on the stove.
Now check your answers with the sheet entitled:
Subject/Verb (Compound) Recognition (Answers).