The compound subject It 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 from 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 dogs Y cats. Therefore, this sentence has a compound subject. In the case of "Dogs are very loyal", the sentence has a simple subject.
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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, these 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 of the characteristics 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:
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:
"The program concluded with the medieval Car of the Magi, 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 they were the vocal soloists ”. (On Federico García Lorca: elite show, mass show, from Profeti, 1992)
In this sentence, the compound subject is the proper nouns Isabel Garcia Lorca Y Laurita Giner de los Ríos. When these cases occur, it is considered that both names and surnames are part of the nucleus.
"The costumes of the horsemen, blue, green and dark capes, and those of the bullfighters, orange, they contrast in the romance with the girl, who does not listen to the beauty of her clothes and the mystery of the trip, while she picks olives with the gray arm of the wind around her waist ”. (On Federico García Lorca: the color of poetry, from 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 nucleus, which is also suits, is elided.
[…]
"The day does not want to come
so that you don't come
nor can I go.
But i will go
giving to the toads my bitten carnation.
But you will come
through the murky sewers of darkness.
Neither the night nor the day They want to come
so that I die for you
and you die for me ".
(Poem Desperate Love Gazelle, by Federico García Lorca)
In the last verse of this fragment of the poem, a compound subject can be observed. The noun phrases are the night Y the 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).
"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 he says what to do and not to do, those happy or tormented, religious or perverse spirits, reject it with dreadful terror ... "(Works VI, García Lorca, 1994).
In this sentence, a compound subject is seen in the conditional subordinate clause: if a corporation or an academy gives a book. The noun phrases are a corporation Y An academy. As you can see, the verb is in its singular form.
“In acute intoxication, cause repeated vomiting by giving a solution of 3 grams of sodium permanganate per liter to drink. Stomach wash may be attempted. Tea or coffee are convenient. Shelter and keep the patient at rest ”. (On Encyclopedia of medical knowledge The Athenaeum, 1976).
The compound subject of the previous sentence is tea or coffee. In this case the noun phrases lack modifiers, having only the nuclei: tea and coffee. And, contrary to the previous example, the verb appears in its plural form.
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