Compound noun phrases Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

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.

Question 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.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is the company and its subsidiaries. These two noun phrases are linked by the coordinating conjunction and, which makes them work together as a single compound unit in the sentence.
In simple words: Look for two noun phrases joined by and, or, or but. That combination is your compound noun phrase.

Question 2. They had walked for miles and miles.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is miles and miles. The word miles appears twice, joined by and, creating emphasis and showing the long distance they traveled.
In simple words: When the same noun is repeated with and between them, that repetition forms a compound noun phrase.

Question 3. Henry felt guilt and shame for what he had done.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is guilt and shame. Both words are nouns joined by the coordinating conjunction and.
In simple words: Two nouns connected by and make a compound noun phrase.

Question 4. Vermont has lots of old houses and rustic barns.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is old houses and rustic barns. Both are noun phrases (each containing an adjective and a noun) joined by and.
In simple words: Look for descriptive noun phrases joined by and - that's a compound noun phrase.

Question 5. The young bride is going shopping with her mother or mother-in-law.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is her mother or mother-in-law. Both are noun phrases joined by the coordinating conjunction or, showing two possible people she might shop with.
In simple words: When two noun phrases are linked by or instead of and, they still form a compound noun phrase.

Question 6. Paying for gas and electricity costs a lot more this year than last.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is gas and electricity. Both are nouns joined by and, representing two things that must be paid for.
In simple words: Simple nouns connected by and form a compound noun phrase.

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.

Question 7. Underline the compound verb phrases in each of the sentences below.
Sample: I'll phone them and listen to their ideas.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is phone them and listen to their ideas. These two verb phrases are joined by and, showing two actions connected together.
In simple words: Look for two verb phrases joined by and, or, or but. That's a compound verb phrase.

Question 8. They often call each other and talk all afternoon.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is call each other and talk all afternoon. Both are verb phrases joined by and, describing two related actions they perform.
In simple words: Two actions joined by and make a compound verb phrase.

Question 9. Adam wrote letters to the company and spoke to their representatives.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is wrote letters to the company and spoke to their representatives. Both are verb phrases linked by and, showing two ways Adam contacted the company.
In simple words: When action phrases are connected by and, they form a compound verb phrase.

Question 10. He invented the product but lost money in the process.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is invented the product but lost money in the process. These are two verb phrases joined by but, which shows a contrast between the two actions.
In simple words: Two verb phrases can be joined by and, or, or but. All three create compound verb phrases.

Question 11. Stephen flew to Europe and visited his childhood friend.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is flew to Europe and visited his childhood friend. Both are verb phrases joined by and, showing two actions Stephen took during the same trip.
In simple words: Look for two action phrases linked by and, or, or but.

Question 12. I received your message yesterday but couldn't respond to it immediately.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is received your message yesterday but couldn't respond to it immediately. These two verb phrases are joined by but, showing a contrast between receiving the message and responding to it.
In simple words: Verb phrases joined by but show a contrast between the two actions.

Question 13. 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.
Answer: There are two compound phrases in this sentence. The compound noun phrase is He and she (two pronouns joined by and). The compound verb phrase is leave on Friday and return on Sunday (two verb phrases joined by and).
In simple words: A single sentence can have both a compound noun phrase and a compound verb phrase.

Question 14. The horse stepped back and rolled its eyes.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is stepped back and rolled its eyes. Both are verb phrases joined by and, showing two related actions the horse performed.
In simple words: Two simple actions joined by and form a compound verb phrase.

Question 15. Amanda is wearing long sleeves but carrying a parasol.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is is wearing long sleeves but carrying a parasol. These two verb phrases are joined by but, showing a contrast between two things Amanda is doing at the same time.
In simple words: But joins actions that seem opposite or different from each other.

Question 16. When Kathy and her daughter travel to Boston, they always visit Harvard and MIT.
Answer: There are two compound phrases in this sentence. The compound noun phrase is Kathy and her daughter (two noun phrases joined by and). The compound noun phrase is also Harvard and MIT (two proper nouns joined by and, representing places they visit).
In simple words: A sentence can contain more than one compound phrase, and they may be nouns or verbs.

Question 17. On Sundays Mr. Adams and his neighbor play golf and have lunch in the clubhouse.
Answer: There are two compound phrases in this sentence. The compound noun phrase is Mr. Adams and his neighbor (two noun phrases joined by and). The compound verb phrase is play golf and have lunch in the clubhouse (two verb phrases joined by and).
In simple words: Look for both noun pairs and verb pairs in the same sentence - they create two separate compound phrases.

Question 18. He loves to cook and entertain.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is loves to cook and entertain. These are two actions (cook and entertain) that share the same helping verb loves to.
In simple words: Even when verbs share a helping verb, they form a compound verb phrase.

Question 19. His youngest son is afraid of thunder and lightning.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is thunder and lightning. Both are nouns joined by and, representing two things the son is afraid of.
In simple words: Two nouns describing objects or things joined by and form a compound noun phrase.

Question 20. Your husband should work hard at his job or find another one.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is work hard at his job or find another one. These two verb phrases are joined by or, giving two options for what the husband could do.
In simple words: Or joins verb phrases that show different choices or options.

Question 21. Harry and his friend often travel to Washington and visit the Smithsonian.
Answer: There are two compound phrases in this sentence. The compound noun phrase is Harry and his friend (two noun phrases joined by and). The compound noun phrase is also Washington and visit the Smithsonian - actually, the compound verb phrase is travel to Washington and visit the Smithsonian (two verb phrases joined by and).
In simple words: Some sentences have multiple compound phrases - look for both noun and verb combinations.

Question 22. It is common knowledge that the Yankees and the Red Sox are bitter rivals.
Answer: The compound noun phrase is the Yankees and the Red Sox. Both are noun phrases (team names with the) joined by and, representing two rival teams.
In simple words: Proper nouns or names joined by and form compound noun phrases.

Question 23. That would ruin her reputation and end her career.
Answer: The compound verb phrase is ruin her reputation and end her career. Both are verb phrases joined by and, showing two negative results that could happen.
In simple words: Verbs sharing the same subject and joined by and form a compound verb phrase.