UNIT 14: COMPOUND PHRASES

Coordinating conjunctions, such as and, or, and but, are very powerful. As we discussed
in Lesson 18, they can join any two units of the same type. Here are some examples with
and, the most common coordinating conjunction:
1. He gave tennis lessons to the girl and her brother. (two noun phrases joined)
2. I cooked dinner and washed the laundry. (two verb phrases joined)
3. Their beautiful and charming hostess soon put them at ease. (two adjectives
joined)
4. My mother listened to me seriously and patiently. (two adverbs joined)
5. The monkey ran up the tree and around its trunk. (two prepositional phrases
joined)
6. I rode my bike and Teresa walked. (two sentences joined)
In this unit, we’ll take a closer look at joined noun phrases and joined verb phrases.

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 Lesson 43: Compound noun phrases

What do you notice about this next sentence?

1. My friend worked at the diner and his cousin worked at the diner.
While it’s a perfectly grammatical sentence, we often choose to make it less repetitious
and say instead:
2. My friend and his cousin worked at the diner.
Since and, a coordinating conjunction, is joining two noun phrases here, my friend and
his cousin is called a compound noun phrase.

Quick tip 43.1

Two noun phrases joined by a coordinating conjunction is called a compound noun phrase.

Here are some more examples, with the compound noun phrases underlined.
3. She slipped the photograph and both letters into her pocket.
4. The senator or his assistant will attend the event.
5. I’ll be traveling to Kansas and Missouri next week on business.

Test yourself 43.1

Underline the compound noun phrases in each of the sentences below.
Sample: The public discovered that the company and its subsidiaries were cheating customers.

Getting started (answers on p. 197) More practice (answers on the website)

1. They had walked for miles and 6. Michael and I have been best friends for
miles. years.

2. Henry felt guilt and shame for what he had 7. Delta Airlines and Air France have £ights to
done. Paris from the U.S.

3. Vermont has lots of old houses and rustic 8. The lead actress or director will likely win
barns. Oscars.

4. The young bride is going shopping with her 9. Audi and BMWare owned by German
mother or mother-in-law. companies.

5. Paying for gas and electricity costs a lot more 10. The president and his foreign visitor held a
this year than last. joint press conference.

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 Lesson 44: Compound verb phrases

What do you notice about this next sentence?

1. Frank ran to the store and Frank purchased a few items.
While it’s a perfectly grammatical sentence, we often choose to make it less repetitious
and say instead:
2. Frank ran to the store and purchased a few items.
Since and, a coordinating conjunction, is joining two verb phrases here, ran to the store
and purchased a few items is called a compound verb phrase.

Quick tip 44.1

Two verb phrases joined by a coordinating conjunction is called a compound verb

phrase.

Here are some more examples, with the compound verb phrases underlined.
3. The general ran forward and led the troops.
4. She remained calm and followed her instincts.
5. His advisor presents him with good ideas but rarely helps him carry them out.

Test yourself 44.1

Underline the compound verb phrases in each of the sentences below.
Sample: I’ll phone them and listen to their ideas.

Getting started (answers on p. 197) More practice (answers on the website)

1. They often call each other and talk all 6. On Saturday nights Samantha dresses up
afternoon. and meets with her friends.

2. Adam wrote letters to the company and spoke 7. Once a month or so we stay home and order
to their representatives. dinner in.

3. He invented the product but lost money in the 8. Politicians do not always walk the walk and
process. talk the talk.

4. Stephen £ew to Europe and visited his 9. On hot summer days, the O’Briens drive to
childhood friend. the beach and enjoy the sun.

5. I received your message yesterday but 10. This couple ¢ghts but always
couldn’t respond to it immediately. makes up.

Test yourself 44.2

Underline the compound noun phrases and verb phrases in the sentences below. A sentence may
contain more than one compound phrase.
Sample: He and she will probably leave on Friday and return on Sunday.

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 UNIT 14:COMPO UND P HRASES

Getting started (answers on p. 197) More practice (answers on the website)

1. The horse stepped back and rolled its 6. His youngest son is afraid of thunder and
eyes. lightning.

2. Amanda is wearing long sleeves but carrying 7. Your husband should work hard at his job or
a parasol. ¢nd another one.

3. When Kathy and her daughter travel to 8. Harry and his friend often travel to
Boston, they always visit Harvard and MIT. Washington and visit the Smithsonian.

4. On Sundays Mr. Adams and his neighbor 9. It is common knowledge that theYankees
play golf and have lunch in the clubhouse. and the Red Sox are bitter rivals.

5. He loves to cook and entertain. 10. That would ruin her reputation and end
her career.

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 Answer keys: Test yourself, Getting started
questions – Unit 14

Test yourself 43.1

1. They had walked for miles and miles.
2. Henry felt guilt and shame for what he had done.
3. Vermont has lots of old houses and rustic barns.
4. The young bride is going shopping with her mother or mother-in-law.
5. Paying for gas and electricity costs a lot more this year than last.

Test yourself 44.1

1. They often call each other and talk all afternoon.
2. Adam wrote letters to the company and spoke to their representatives.
3. He invented the product but lost money in the process.
4. Stephen £ew to Europe and visited his childhood friend.
5. I received your message yesterday but couldn’t respond to it immediately.

Test yourself 44.2

1. The horse stepped back and rolled its eyes.
2. Amanda is wearing long sleeves but carrying a parasol.
3. When Kathy and her daughter travel to Boston, they always visit Harvard and MIT.
4. On Sundays Mr. Adams and his neighbor play golf and have lunch in the clubhouse.
5. He loves to cook and entertain.

☞ FOR A REVIEW EXERCISE OF THIS UNIT, SEE THE WEBSITE.

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 Review matching exercise and answer key – Part II

Review matching exercise

Match the underlined word or words in each sentence to the appropriate term in each set.
Use each term only once.
Sample: Warren gave himself an extra serving. verb phrase

Set A

compound noun phrase object pronoun prepositional phrase

indirect object perfect tense future tense
modal predicate adjective

1. He has written to you every day. .........................................................

2. Mrs. McLean is sending the recipe to her sister-in-law. .........................................................

3. He understands me better than anyone. .........................................................

4. His companions will take their canoe across the river. .........................................................

5. Richard was working when Miguel and Sam came by. .........................................................

6. The building is near the stream. .........................................................

7. It might be the largest museum in the world. .........................................................

8. Those decisions can be di⁄cult. .........................................................

Set B

compound verb phrase past participle subject pronoun

direct object present participle
main verb progressive tense

1. I’ll buy the food and then cook it. ..........................................................

2. They had come back to buy two copies of the newspaper. ..........................................................

3. Matt is hurrying to his o⁄ce. ..........................................................

4. The old man was chanting a song she’d never heard before. ..........................................................

5. Molly selected her dress early in the day. ..........................................................

6. Her horse was behaving calmly. ..........................................................

7. Johnny had eaten a good breakfast. ..........................................................

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 Review matching exercise – Part II

Answer key: Review matching exercise – Part II

Set A
1. He has written to you every day. perfect tense
2. Mrs. McLean is sending the recipe to her sister-in-law. indirect object

3. He understands me better than anyone. object pronoun

4. His companions will take their canoe across the river. future tense
5. Richard was working when Miguel and Sam came by. compound noun phrase

6. The building is near the stream. prepositional phrase

7. It might be the largest museum in the world. modal

8. Those decisions can be di⁄cult. predicate adjective

Set B
1. I’ll buy the food and then cook it. compound verb phrase

2. They had come back to buy two copies of the newspaper. subject pronoun

3. Matt is hurrying to his o⁄ce. present participle

4. The old man was chanting a song she’d never heard before. direct object

5. Molly selected her dress early in the day. main verb

6. Her horse was behaving calmly. progressive tense

7. Johnny had eaten a good breakfast. past participle

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