Compound Predicate | Examples & Definition
A compound predicate is made up of two or more verbs that share the same subject and are joined by a conjunction (e.g., “We walked and talked”).
Compound predicates include any of the verbs’ objects and modifiers. The verbs or verb phrases are joined using the coordinating conjunctions “and,” “or,” “nor,” “but,” or “yet” or a correlative conjunction (e.g., “either … or“).
We can go to the movies or watch the football game at home.
Jayden cooked dinner, washed the dishes, and swept the floor.
We neither ate nor drank for twelve hours.
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What is a compound predicate?
Every sentence and clause has two parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject performs the action of the verb. The predicate includes the verb and all of its objects (i.e., direct objects and indirect objects) and modifiers (e.g., adverb phrases).
Simple predicates contain only one verb or verb phrase. Compound predicates must contain two or more verbs that are controlled by the same subject.
Simple and compound predicates
| Compound predicate examples | Simple predicate examples |
|---|---|
| Tim hates yogurt but loves ice cream. | Tim hates yogurt and ice cream. [one verb with two direct objects] |
| Emily read a book and watched a movie. | Emily read a book while lying in bed. [one verb with a direct object and a modifying adverb phrase] |
Compound predicates are often used to combine short sentences, avoid repetition, or show the relationship between two sentences. When two or more short sentences are combined, the subject is not repeated.
The children eat lunch at noon and then take a nap.
Ray never empties the trash. He also never loads the dishwasher.
Ray never empties the trash or loads the dishwasher.
I enjoy going to the symphony. I find the opera boring.
I enjoy going to the symphony yet find the opera boring.
Compound predicates vs compound sentences
Sometimes, people get confused about the difference between a compound predicate and a compound sentence.
- Compound sentences have two (or more) subjects that correspond to two (or more) different verbs. In a compound sentence, a comma is always included before the conjunction.
- Compound predicates have two (or more) verbs that correspond to the same subject. Commas are not included in compound predicates unless the predicate contains more than two verbs (as discussed below).
| Simple sentence with compound predicate examples | Compound sentence examples |
|---|---|
| I walked and rode my bike. | I walked, and my brother rode his bike. |
| She will go to college or take a gap year. | She will go to college, or she will take a gap year. |
Note that two pronouns or a pronoun and a noun that refer to the same person still count as two separate subjects and form a compound sentence (e.g, “I walked, and I rode my bike”).
It is possible to have a compound predicate with a compound subject (e.g., “The students and teachers sang and danced”). In this case, both verbs (“sang” and “danced”) apply to both nouns (“students” and “teachers”). A similar compound sentence (e.g., “The students sang, and the teachers danced”) has a different meaning.
In a compound predicate, an auxiliary verb (e.g., “be,” “have,” “do”) or modal verb (e.g., “can,” “will”) is typically only used before the first main verb (e.g., “Tess can read and write”). In a compound sentence, auxiliary verbs and modal verbs are repeated before each main verb (e.g., “I can finish this project, or I can help you with your presentation”).
Compound predicates and commas
If a compound predicate has more than two verbs, a comma is used to separate the verb phrases, and the conjunction is placed before the final verb phrase.
A comma before the conjunction (sometimes referred to as serial comma or an Oxford comma) is preferred in some styles and not in others. Just make sure you are consistent about whether you use an Oxford comma.
Compound predicates with only two items never require a comma.
- The students took a quiz, watched a video, and started their homework. [Oxford comma]
- The students took a quiz, watched a video and started their homework. [no Oxford comma]
- The students took a quiz and watched a video.
- The students took a quiz, and watched a video.
Compound predicates with “nor”
“Nor” is used in very specific situations in English. In compound predicates, it is used to indicate two actions that did not happen. When used as a correlative conjunction, the form is neither … nor (e.g., “We neither talked nor moved”).
Because “nor” is so closely associated with “neither,” which means “none of two,” it is best to avoid “nor” when using more than two verbs.
“Nor” is not used with other negatives, such as “not” or “never.” Instead, “or” is used in these situations. Because “nor” is somewhat formal and old-fashioned, it is often better to rephrase sentences to avoid it.
- Calvin neither read the chapter nor completed the homework.
- Calvin neither read the chapter or completed the homework.
- Calvin did not read the chapter or complete the homework.
- Calvin did not read the chapter nor completed the homework.
Frequently asked questions about compound predicates
- What is the difference between a compound subject and a compound predicate?
-
A compound subject refers to the group of nouns or pronouns that perform the action of the verb or are described by the verb (e.g., “Elle and Miriam are going to the store,” “She and Miriam are tall”).
A compound predicate occurs when two or more verbs share the same subject (e.g., “Beck walks and runs daily”).
Compound subjects and compound predicates can be used together (e.g., “The fans and the team cheered and shouted to celebrate the win”), or a compound subject can be used with a simple predicate and vice versa.
- Do compound predicates need commas?
-
A compound predicate with only two verbs does not use a comma (e.g., “I made my bed and took a shower”).
For a compound predicate with more than two verbs, a comma is used to separate the verbs or verb phrases, and the coordinating conjunction (e.g., “and”) is placed before the last verb.
- If you use the Oxford comma (or serial comma), you place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., “I cooked, cleaned, and did laundry all day”).
- If you do not use the Oxford comma, you do not place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., “I cooked, cleaned and did laundry all day”).
- What is the difference between a compound predicate and a compound sentence?
-
In a compound predicate, two (or more) verbs share one subject (e.g., “Tan sings and dances very well”).
A compound sentence has two (or more) separate subjects that act on two (or more) separate verbs (e.g., “Tan sings, and Lina dances”).
