COMPOUND VERBS 41
A compound verb consists of two or more verbs of the
same subject connected by and, or, or but.
The runner
S. 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 all night.
S. compound verb
At night I often television.
S. compound verb
The old car 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
compound subject compound verb
sang and danced.
runs but uses
read or watch
moaned, whistled, and howled
stumbled and fell.
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.

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.
We tried but did not succeed.
tennis.
She jogs, swims, and plays
42 PARTS OF SPEECH
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.
2
They lived and worked
in Boston in colonial America.
3
James, the older, operated a printing shop.
4
He employed Benjamin and taught him the printing trade.
5
Often, how-
ever, they quarreled and came to blows.
6
Finally, in 1723, Benjamin ran
away.
7
Benjamin arrived in Philadelphia, tired and hungry.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
lived and workedThey
wereJames and Benjamin Franklin
COMPOUND VERBS 43
SUBJECT VERB
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
44 PARTS OF SPEECH
Lesson
7
Nouns as
Direct Objects
NOUNS AS DIRECT OBJECTS 45
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

EXERCISE 1.
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.
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?

S.
D.O.
5. Jonathan returned the books to the library. V.
S.
D.O.
none
team
has left
soil
Water
loosens
NOUNS AS DIRECT OBJECTS 47
Lesson
8
Nouns as
Indirect Objects
48 PARTS OF SPEECH
How is the noun Amy used in the following sentence?
The crowd gave Amy a cheer.
S. V. ? 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.