Definition:

A sentence has a compound subject or predicate when it is a simple sentence with more
than one subject or more than one predicate or both.
Rachel and Steffi read the same book. (compound subject)
Ulysses ran, swam, and rode a bicycle in the triathlon. (compound predicate)
My dog and ferrets play and sleep together. (compound subject and predicate)
Compound subjects and predicates are joined with either the coordinating conjunctions (and,
but, or, nor) or the correlative conjunctions (both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but
also).
Hint:
Don't confuse a verb phrase with a compound predicate.
We will be going to China this summer. (verb phrase - it has only one main verb - going)
A compound predicate might share a helping verb or might be more than one separate verb
phrase.
Dolphins are swimming and splashing near our dock.
Dolphins do swim and do splash near our dock.
Dolphins do swim and might splash near our dock.
Hint:
Don't confuse a simple sentence with a compound subject and predicate with a
compound sentence.
Sam and Clarence are talking and eating at the same time. (compound subject and predicate notice the pattern: subject, subject, verb, verb. Both subjects are doing both verbs.)
Sam is talking, and Clarence is eating at the same time. (compound sentence - notice the
pattern: subject, verb, subject, verb. The first subject is doing the first verb, and the second
subject is doing the second verb.)