Compound predicate definition: A compound predicate consists of two or more verbs or verb phrases that are joined by a conjunction.
What is a Compound Predicate?
What does compound predicate mean? A compound predicate consists of two or more verbs or verb phrases that are joined by a conjunction.
A compound predicate provides two or more details about the same subject. These details must use more than one verb or verb phrase.
The verbs or verb phrases are joined by a conjunction.
Simple Predicate Example:
- Sari visited South Africa.
This example only has one verb/verb phrase, “visited South Africa.”
Compound Predicate Example:
- Sari visited South Africa and met her extended family.
This example has two verb phrases, “visited South Africa” and “met her extended family.” The conjunction, “and” connects the two verb phrases.
Subject and Predicate: What is the Difference?
An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate. This is also called a sentence.
A subject is the noun “doing” the action in the sentence.
A predicate is the verb that the subject (noun) is “doing” in the sentence.
In its most basic form, a sentence may have just two words, a subject and a predicate.
Example:
- I swam.
- In this example, “I” is the subject and “swam” is the predicate.
Modifiers may be added to the sentence to make it more complex.
Example:
- I swam yesterday.
- This sentence adds an adverb to tell when I swam.
Importance of Compound Predicates
In general, compound predicates combine similar ideas or concepts and make writing (and speaking) more efficient, effective, and concise.
Example Without Compound Predicate:
- Tomorrow, I will go to school. I will also attend soccer practice. I will also complete my assignments.
These sentences are redundant and unnecessary. A compound predicate will join these ideas to make the writing less wordy.
Example with Compound Predicate:
- Tomorrow, I will go to school, attend soccer practice, and complete my assignments.
This example is much more efficient and concise. Redundancy is avoided by adding the compound predicate.
The compound predicate is necessary for writing and speaking well in English.
Compound Predicates Have One Subject
It is important to note that compound subjects and predicates are different things. Additionally, compound sentences and predicates are different things.
Compound predicates have only one subject. That is, the same subject is “doing” more than one verb or verb phase.
Compound Predicate Examples:
- The cat scratched and meowed at the door.
In this example, “the cat” is the subject. He is completing the two actions, “scratched and meowed.”
Outside Example:
- Regulators in San Francisco have blamed the website for depleting the supply of rental housing and attempted to impose restrictions on its growth. –The Wall Street Journal
In this example, the regulators “have blamed” and “attempted to impose restrictions.” This sentence has two predicates but not two subjects.
A compound predicate is different from a compound sentence. A compound sentence contains more than one independent clause (more than one subject) joined by a conjunction.
Compound Sentence Examples:
- The cat meowed, and the dog barked.
In this example, there are two subjects, “the cat” and “the dog.” Furthermore, there are two independent clauses as each subject also has a predicate (“meowed” and “barked,” respectively).
Outside Example:
- That pattern is good for cities, but it raises difficult questions about who will be able to afford them in the future. –The Washington Post
In this example, there are, again, two subjects, “that pattern” and “it.”
A compound subject is different from a compound predicate and a compound sentence. A compound subject is made up of one independent clause with two subjects “doing” the action.
Compound Subject Example:
- She and I went to the mall.
In this example, there are two subjects, “she” and “I.”
Here are a few example sentences where you can determine if they contain compound subjects or compound predicates.
Which of the following sentences has a compound predicate?
- Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth and wash my face.
- The cardiologist said Ellie should reduce her sugar intake and increase her level of exercise.
- My mother arrived at noon, but the party started at ten.
See answers below.
Summary: What are Compound Predicates?
Define compound predicate: the definition of compound predicate is a predicate that has two or more verbs or verb phrases.
In summary, a compound predicate:
- is a part of an independent clause
- contains one subject and multiple verbs/verb phrases
- joins the verbs/verb phrases with a conjunction
Also, it is important to remember that a compound subject and predicate are not the same thing.
Answers
1. Compound Predicate
2. Compound Predicate
3. Compound Subject
Contents