PART II.

Compound Subjects

A compound
subject consists of
two or more
1. Erin andsubjects
Sean joinedofourthe
group.
compound subject
same
verb
verb
connected
Erin is a subjectby and
of the verb joined.
Sean is also or aor.
subject of the verb joined.
These two subjects of the same verb, connected by and, give us the compound subject
Erin and Sean.
2. Nickels, dimes, or quarters may be deposited.
compound subject verb

Nickels is a subject of the verb may be deposited.

So, too, are dimes and quarters.

These three subjects of the same verb, connected by or, give us the compound subject
Nickels, dimes, or quarters.

Composition Hint
Compound subjects let us express ourselves in fewer words and without repetition. If there
were no compound subjects, we would have to say:
Nickels may be deposited. Dimes may be deposited.
Quarters may be deposited.

EXERCISE 1. Enter the compound subject in the space at the right.

Samples:
Rain or snow is predicted. Rain or snow

Did Terry and Mallika agree with you? Terry and Mallika

1. Vermont and New Hampshire are next to each other.

each other.
2. Are onions, lettuce, and carrots on your shopping list?
3. Paula, Emilio, or I will help with the decorations.
4. Cycling and rollerblading are my favorite sports.
5. Saturday and Sunday, fog and mist made travel difficult.
EXERCISE 2. Express the following in fewer words by using a compound subject.
Samples:
Your battery may be causing the trouble.
Your bulb may be causing the trouble.
Your battery or bulb may be causing the trouble.
Dresses are on sale.
Sweaters are on sale.

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 Jackets are on sale.
Dresses, sweaters, and jackets are on sale.
Note: When there are more than two subjects in a compound subject, put a comma after each
one, except the last:
Dresses, slacks, and jackets . . .

1. The House passed the bill.

The Senate passed the bill.

2. Carmela may be the next class president.

Razi may be the next class president.

3. Prices have gone up.

Wages have gone up.
Taxes have gone up.

4. A table will be needed.

Four chairs will be needed.

5. The classrooms should be repainted.

The science labs should be repainted.

6. Lisa will be there.

Jennifer will be there.
Marie will be there.

7. CDs are better than tapes.

DVDs are better than tapes.

8. Marlo could have scored the winning run.

Alex could have scored the winning run.

9. A sensible diet is good for us.

Exercise is good for us.

10. Notebooks are in the backpack.

Pens are in the backpack.

EXERCISE 3. Complete each sentence below by adding a compound subject.

Samples:
Friday and Saturday are the busiest shopping days of the week.
Did Jennifer or Rajani tell you about my accident?
1. are the coldest months of the year.
2. will probably be chosen captain.
3. In yesterday’s game, did most of the scoring.
4. had birthdays recently.
5. broadcast the latest weather reports.
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 PART III. Compound Verbs
A compound verb
consists of two or
more verbs of the
same subject
The runnerconnected
stumble and fell by
. and,
S.
or, or but.
compound verb

The verb stumbled tells what the subject runner did.

The verb fell, too, tells what the subject runner did.
These two verbs of the same subject, connected by and, give us the compound verb stumbled
and fell.
Here are more examples of compound verbs:
The wind moaned, whistled, and howled all night.
S. compound verb

At night I often read or watch television.

S. compound verb

The old car runs but uses a lot of oil.

S. compound verb

Question: May a sentence have both a compound subject and a compound verb?
Answer: Yes. Here is an example:
Cindy and Luke sang and danced.
compound subject compound verb

Composition Hint

A common error in writing is unnecessary repetition of the subject.

I parked the car. I shut off the engine. I put the key in my pocket. (Three I’s.)
With a compound verb, we can avoid such repetition.
I parked the car, shut off the engine, and put the key in my pocket. (One I.)

EXERCISE 4. Eliminate repetition of the subject by using a compound verb.

Samples:
She jogs. She jogs, swims, and plays tennis.
She swims.
She plays tennis.
We tried. We tried but did not succeed.
We did not succeed.

Note: When a compound verb consists of more than two parts, put a comma after each part,
except the last:
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 jogs, swims, and plays . . .

1. Fire endangers life.

Fire destroys property.

2. I went in.
I took one look.
I left.

3. A teacher explains the subject.

A teacher tests students.

4. They have money.

They do not know how to spend it.

5. Should we leave?
Should we wait a little bit longer?

6. We closed the windows.

We turned off the lights.
We locked the door.

7. A good book holds your interest.

A good book teaches you something.

8. He ordered a grilled cheese sandwich.

He left it untouched.

9. The lungs provide the blood with oxygen.

The lungs remove carbon dioxide.

10. She borrowed my notes.

She did not return them.

Read the following passage. (Sentences have been numbered.)

1
James and Benjamin Franklin were brothers. 2They lived and worked in Boston in colonial
America. 3James, the older, operated a printing shop. 4He employed Benjamin and taught him the
printing trade. 5Often, however, they quarreled and came to blows. 6Finally, in 1723, Benjamin
ran away.
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Benjamin arrived in Philadelphia, tired and hungry. 8He saw a boy eating bread and struck up
a conversation. 9The boy gave Benjamin directions to a baker’s shop. 10Benjamin went there,

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ordered three pennies’ worth of bread, and received three enormous loaves. 11Their size
astounded him. 12Evidently, bread was much cheaper in Philadelphia than in Boston.
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Eating one loaf, Benjamin walked the streets of Philadelphia with another loaf under each
arm. 14He must have looked ridiculous. 15Deborah Read saw him and laughed. 16Seven years later,
Deborah and Benjamin would become man and wife.

EXERCISE 5. Below, write the subject and the verb of each sentence in the passage you have
just read. Caution: Some of the subjects are compound, and some of the verbs
are compound. The subject and the verb of the first two sentences have been
filled in for you as samples.

SUBJECT VERB
1. James and Benjamin Franklin were
2. They lived and worked
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

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 PART IV. Nouns as Direct Objects
How is the noun Amy used in these two sentences?
1. Amy is our top scorer.
2. The crowd cheered Amy.
In the first sentence, the noun Amy is the subject of the verb is. In the second sentence, the noun
Amy is the direct object of the verb cheered.

What Is a Direct Object?

A direct object is a
word in the
predicate that
receives the
action of the
In sentence 2, above, verb.
the noun Amy is the word in the predicate that receives the action of
the verb cheered. Therefore, the noun Amy is the direct object of the verb cheered.
Note: There can be no direct object without an action verb.
Compare the noun Amy in the following sentences:
1. Our top scorer is Amy.
2. The crowd cheered Amy.
Sentence 1 cannot have a direct object because it has no action verb; is does not express
action. Amy, in sentence 1, is not a direct object.
On the other hand, sentence 2 can have a direct object because it has an action verb; cheered
expresses action. Amy, in sentence 2, receives the action of the verb cheered and is a direct object
of that verb.
The crowd cheered Amy.
S. V. D.O.

Question: Are there other verbs, besides is, that do not express action?
Answer: Yes. Here are some of them:

am will be may be have been

are shall be might be has been

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 was would be can be had been
were should be could be will have been

All of the listed verbs, including is, are forms of a single verb—the verb be.
Remember the following about am, is, are, will be, and all other forms of the verb be:
1. They do not express action.
2. They cannot have a direct object.

EXERCISE 6. In which sentence, a or b, is the italicized noun a direct object? Write the letters
D.O. on the proper line.
Sample:
a. Paul and Donna are my cousins. a.
b. I called my cousins. b. D.O.

1. a. Stephen Crane was a reporter. a.

b. The publisher dismissed the reporter. b.
2. a. Ginette plays two stringed instruments. a.
b. The violin, guitar, and cello are stringed instruments. b.
3. a. Mercedes has been president since April. a.
b. The members are blaming the president. b.
4. a. For years Dr. Kroll had been our dentist. a.
b. We have found a new dentist. b.
5. a. Mr. Reed is Jean’s teacher. a.
b. The district has hired a new art teacher. b.

Easy Procedure for Finding the Direct Object

To find the direct object, ask the question WHAT? or WHOM? right after the action verb.
Question 1: What is the direct object in the following sentence?
Caroline drives a Ford.
Procedure: Caroline drives a WHAT?
Answer: Ford is the direct object.
Question 2: What is the direct object in the following?
I watched the artist at work.
Procedure: I watched WHOM at work?
Answer: Artist is the direct object.

Note that a direct object may be compound: It may consist of more than one word. The
following sentence has a compound direct object:
Heavy rain flooded the streets and highways.
S. V. compound direct object

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EXERCISE 7. In each sentence below, find the verb (V.), the subject (S.), and the direct object
(D.O.).
Samples:
Water loosens the soil V. loosens

S. water

D.O. soil

The team has already left. V. has left

S. team

D.O. none

1. The speaker’s question surprised V.

and amused the audience. S.

D.O.

2. Have some yogurt and fruit. V.

S.

D.O.

3. Are the snow and ice melting? V.

S.

D.O.

4. The World Wide Web and television V.

provide information and entertainment. S.

D.O.

5. Jonathan returned the books to the library. V.

S.

D.O.

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 PART V. Nouns as Indirect Objects
How is the noun Amy used in the following sentence?
The crowd gave Amy a cheer.
S. V. IO D.O.

Amy is the indirect object of the verb gave.

What Is an Indirect Object?

An indirect object is a word in the predicate that tells FOR
WHOM or TO WHOM something was done, or is being done, or
will be done.

Note that there are two nouns after the action verb gave: Amy and cheer. The noun cheer is
the direct object of gave because it answers the question WHAT? (The crowd gave WHAT?)
The noun Amy tells FOR WHOM the crowd gave a cheer. Therefore, Amy is the indirect object
of the verb gave.

The crowd gave Amy a cheer.

S. V. I.O. D.O.

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 The above sentence shows that an action verb can have both a direct object and an indirect
object in the same sentence.
Question: Which comes first in a sentence, the direct object or the indirect object?
Answer: The indirect object always comes before the direct object. Note these further
examples:

A friend sent Marilyn a card.

I.O. D.O.

(Marilyn is the indirect object because it tells TO WHOM a friend sent a card.)
Carlos is buying Mrs. Lopez a gift.
I.O. D.O.

(Mrs. Lopez is the indirect object because it tells FOR WHOM Carlos is buying a
gift.)
The firm pays its officers a salary.
I.O. D.O.

(Officers is the indirect object because it tells TO WHOM the firm pays a salary.)

EXERCISE 8. For each sentence, indicate the verb (V.), the subject (S.), the indirect object
(I.O.), if any, and the direct object (D.O.), if any.
Samples:

Sunburn itches. V. itches

S. Sunburn

I.O. none

D.O. none

Ms. Jones will tell the court the truth. V. will tell
S. Ms. Jones

I.O. court

D.O. truth

1. The store owner offered the V.

customer a discount. S.

I.O.

D.O.

2. Did the judge grant the suspect bail? V.

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 S.

I.O.

D.O.

3. The city will build the Giants a V. new stadium. S.

I.O.

D.O.

4. Brendan has made his parents V.

a promise. S.

I.O.

D.O.

5. A passerby slipped and fell. V.

S.

I.O.

D.O.

EXERCISE 9. Rewrite the sentence, changing the italicized expression to an indirect object.

Sample:
Did you give the assignment to Nick?
Did you give Nick the assignment?

1. Rob gave flowers to Mia.

2. Have you ever done a favor for John?

3. Liang is lending his science notes to Kristin.

4. Rosita is making a blouse for her sister.

5. Give the tickets to the usher.

6. Who baked a cake for Jennifer?

7. Please cut a slice of melon for Catherine.

8. Washington is giving emergency aid to the flooded regions.

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9. I wrote a letter to Yasmin.

10. The cashier handed the change to the customer.

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