COMPOUND SUBJECT: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES OF SENTENCES - LITERATURE - 2025

The composite subject is one that is made up of at least two nuclei. A nucleus is defined as the word that contains the relevant information within a syntagmatic structure (group of words that fulfill a syntactic function within a sentence). The opposite of the compound subject is the simple subject (single-word kernel).

The syntagmatic structure that performs the function of the subject is the noun phrase. The subject, in grammar, is the term of which something is predicated, said or affirmed. This, together with the predicate, is part of the sentence. For its part, a noun phrase is any word or group of words that functions as a noun.

Thus, by way of illustration, the subject of "Cats and dogs are more than just pets for many people" is cats and dogs. This has two noun phrases whose nuclei are cats and dogs. Therefore, this sentence has a compound subject. In the case of "Dogs are very loyal," the sentence has a simple subject.

characteristics

The main characteristic of the composite subject is that it is made up of two or more nuclei. When it has more than two, its nuclei are separated with commas: Mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians are the five best-known classes of vertebrates (animals with backbones).

In case of having only two nuclei, they are united by coordinating conjunctions: "and", "or" and "neither… nor". Conjunctions, in general, are particles that serve to link syntactic elements within a sentence. Between them, the coordinators join equivalent elements (in this case two nouns).

On the other hand, another characteristic of the compound subject is that the verb form of the predicate that accompanies it must be in the plural, even if each nucleus is in the singular. Note the following sentences:

• His clothes and the rest of his belongings were kept in the cellar
• Neither you nor I should go to that celebration.

However, when the nuclei of the compound subject are in the singular and united by the disjunctive conjunction "or", the verb can be in the singular or in the plural. Thus, in the following sentences, both versions are correct:

• In the end, time or death has to prove me right.
• In the end, time or death will prove me right.

Examples of sentences with compound subject

Formed with the coordinating conjunction "and"

“The program concluded with the medieval Auto de los Reyes Magos, with musical transcriptions by Pedrell and Romeu, and instrumentation for cembalo, clarinet and lute by Falla; Isabel García Lorca and Laurita Giner de los Ríos were the vocal soloists ”. (In Federico García Lorca: elite show, mass show, by Profeti, 1992)

In this sentence, the compound subject is the proper names Isabel García Lorca and Laurita Giner de los Ríos. When these cases occur, both names and surnames are considered to be part of the nucleus.

Formed with the coordinating conjunction “y”, with second nucleus elided

" The costumes of the horsemen, blue, green and dark capes, and those of the bullfighters, orange, contrast in the romance with the girl, who does not listen to the beauty of their clothes and the mystery of the trip, while she picks olives with the gray arm of the wind at the waist ”. (In Federico García Lorca: the color of poetry, by Guerrero Ruiz and Dean-Thacker, 1998)

In this sentence, the first phrase of the compound subject is: the horsemen's suits, blue, green and dark capes. And its core is: suits.

Meanwhile, the second phrase is made up of: those of the torerillos, orange. Note that the core, which is also suits, is elided.

Formed with the compound coordinating conjunction "ni… ni"

“The day does not want to come

so that you cannot come

and I cannot go.

But I'll be

giving the toads my bitten carnation.

But you will come

through the murky sewers of darkness.

Neither night nor day want to come

so that I die for you

and you die for me ”.

(Poem Gacela del amor desperate, by Federico García Lorca)

In the last verse of this fragment of the poem, a compound subject can be observed. The noun phrases are night and day, and their nuclei are night and day, respectively. Note that, although both nuclei are in the singular, the verb appears in the plural (they want).

Formed with the disjunctive coordinating conjunction "o"

"Human passions are a thousand and a thousand in infinite tonality, and a thousand and a thousand men who each see things according to their soul, and if a corporation or an academy gives a book, in which it says what to do and not to do, those happy or tormented, religious or perverse spirits, reject it with dreadful terror… ”(Obras VI, García Lorca, 1994).

In this sentence, a compound subject is appreciated in the conditional subordinate clause: if a corporation or an academy gives a book. The noun phrases are a corporation and an academy. As you can see, the verb is in its singular form.

Formed with the disjunctive coordinating conjunction "o", plural verb

“In acute intoxication, cause repeated vomiting by giving a solution of 3 grams of sodium permanganate per liter to drink. Stomach flushing may be attempted. Tea or coffee are convenient. Shelter and keep the patient at rest ”. (In Encyclopedia of medical knowledge The Athenaeum, 1976).

The compound subject of the previous sentence is tea or coffee. In this case, the noun phrases have no modifiers, having only the nuclei: tea and coffee. And, contrary to the previous example, the verb appears in its plural form.

References

1. Guatemalan Institute of Radio Education. (2014). Communication and Language 8. New City: IGER.
2. Hualde, JI; Olarrea, A. and Escobar, AM (2001). Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Ayala Flores, OL and Martín Daza, C. (2008). Language and literature. Recovery notebook. Madrid: AKAL.
4. González Picado, J. (1999). Fundamental course of Castilian grammar. San José: University of Costa Rica.
5. Ross, LR (1982). Investigating the syntax of Spanish. San José: EUNED.
6. Benito Mozas, A. (1992). Practical grammar. Madrid: EDAF.
7. Garimaldi by Raffo Magnasco; R. (2002). Language, communication and speech. Río Cuarto: National University of Río Cuarto.
8. Llamas, E. (2010). Spanish. Morrisville: Lulu.com.