Using 'said' as part of a compound verb [closed]

I am working on proofreading a first-time novel. The author repeteadly uses 'said' as part of a kind of compound verb (dropping the subject after 'and'):

"I don't understand," he said, and then walked away.

"This is your fault," she said, and turned to face the mountain.

"I'm sorry," said Bill, and smiled.

As much as I feel sure that this can't be right, and that the compound verb is broken by the unconventional syntax around 'say', I can't find any grammar rules or explanations to help clarify it. Of course, just adding another subject before the second verb would fix it, but I'd like to know how to explain that this more concise structure is wrong.

Am I right and this is wrong, and why?

Solution 1:

Those are not compound verbs.

A compound verb is a single verb that consists of more than one word, like "give up", "call out", "play down". Your examples have two verbs: "say" and another.

The structure is referred to as a compound predicate. A compound predicate contains two (or more) verbs, with a single subject. In your first example the verbs are "said" and "walked".

"I don't understand," he said, and then walked away.

The reversal of the verb and object in the first part of the compound is legitimate, just as it would be in a single verb predicate. "'I don't understand' he said." is just as valid as "he said 'I don't understand'".

There is no special treatment for "say" or similar verbs.

He threw the drink in her face, and then walked away.

She closed her eyes, and turned to face the mountain.

Your examples are perfectly grammatically correct.