Compound Subject
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A sentence sometimes has more than one subject and verb. When it does, the sentence part is known as a compound part.
What Is a Compound Subject?
A compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects that share a verb or verb phrase. These subjects are joined by a conjunction such as and, or, or nor. Because a compound subject consists only of simple subjects, it does not include any of the words that modify the subjects.
Compound Subject Examples:
(Who bought raffle tickets at the fair? Dominique and Tyler bought raffle tickets at the fair. Dominique and Tyler make up the compound subject.)
(Who will call us when they get to town? Ryan or Ellie will call us when they get to town. Ryan and Ellie make up the compound subject.)
(What makes the patio look colorful? Orange tables and yellow chairs make the patio look colorful. Tables and chairs make up the compound subject.)
(What is expected today? Rain, wind, and low temperatures are expected today. Rain, wind, and temperatures make up the compound subject.)
(What wandered freely across the farm? The cows and sheep wandered freely across the farm. Cows and sheep make up the compound subject.)
(Who is going skiing with us tomorrow? Bethany and Marcus are going skiing with us tomorrow. Bethany and Marcus make up the compound subject.)
(Who will be unable to attend the wedding? Phil and I will be unable to attend the wedding. Phil and I make up the compound subject.)
(What filled the fruit basket? Apples, oranges, and pears filled the fruit basket. Apples, oranges, and pears make up the compound subject.)
(What would make a good dish for dinner? Either squash or cauliflower would make a good side dish for dinner. Squash and cauliflower make up the compound subject.)
(What are my favorite outdoor activities? Biking, hiking, and camping are my favorite outdoor activities. Biking, hiking, and camping make up the compound subject.)
(Who will lead the meeting today? Gwen or Juanita will lead the meeting today. Gwen and Juanita make up the compound subject.)
(What made driving challenging? The driving snow and darkness made driving challenging. Snow and darkness make up the compound subject.)
Why Are Compound Subjects Important?
By combining subjects that share a verb or verb phrase, compound subjects help writers avoid repetition and make their writing more concise.
Example:
Related Topics:
Predicate
Simple Predicate
Compound Predicate
Complete Predicate
Predicate Nominative
Predicate Adjective
Simple Subject
Subject Complement
Complete Subject
All Grammar Terms