What is a Compound Predicate? Compound Predicate Examples and Definition

Compound Predicate

Need help understanding the Compound Predicate? Check out our page and find compound predicate examples, learn to define compound predicate and learn how to weave a complete subject into your own writing.

What Is a Compound Predicate?

A compound predicate is two or more verbs or verb phrases that share the same subject and are joined by a conjunction. A compound predicate may also include additional words that give more information about the verbs or verb phrases in the sentence. To identify a compound predicate in a sentence, ask yourself what the subject does or is, being sure to pay attention to all the verbs or verb phrases in the sentence and any words that give more information about them. Note that, although a conjunction joins a compound predicate’s verbs or verb phrases, it is not part of the compound predicate.

Compound Predicate Examples

What is a Compound Predicate?

(What did Marcel do? He ate dinner and then watched a movie. Ate dinner and then watched a movie make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

The ducks flew overhead and landed in the water.

(What did the ducks do? They flew overhead and landed in the water. Flew overhead and landed in the water make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

The performer tried to grab his trapeze but missed.

(What did the performer do? He tried to grab his trapeze but missed. Tried to grab his trapeze and missed make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

Tanya walked or biked to school every day.

(What did Tanya do? She walked or biked to school every day. Walked and biked to school every day make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

Compound Predicate Examples

(What do the cupcakes do? They look pretty and taste great. Look pretty and taste great make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

The glass fell off the table and smashed on the floor.

(What did the glass do? It fell off the table and smashed on the floor. Fell off the table and smashed on the floor make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

My sisters were going to go to the beach but decided to stay home instead.

(What were my sisters doing? They were going to go to the beach but decided to stay home instead. Were going to go to the beach and decided to stay home instead make up the parts of the compound predicate.)

Why Is a Compound Predicate Important?

A compound predicate can help a writer avoid using too many short, repetitious sentences. For example, instead of writing two sentences with the same subject but different verbs or verb phrases, a writer can combine the verbs or verb phrases in one sentence. Examples:

Original sentence: Lily grabbed her car keys. Lily drove to her music lesson.

Revised sentence: Lily grabbed her car keys and drove to her music lesson.

Original sentence: Kina finished her project. Kina went to the science fair.

Revised sentence: Kina finished her project and went to the science fair.

Original sentence: Jorge went swimming. Jorge also played basketball.

Revised sentence: Jorge went swimming and also played basketball.