FAQs about sentence and word structure

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”).

Read this FAQ: Do compound predicates need commas?

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.

Read this FAQ: What is the difference between a compound subject and a compound predicate?