input, span { background: green; }
 input:checked, input:checked + span { background: red; }

 <div>

  <script type="text/javascript">
   

    function test() {
      /* Technically not part of DOM1 HTML but Tantek assures me that
      is an oversight... */
      document.getElementById("test").indeterminate = true;
    }

    window.setTimeout("test()", 100);
   
  </script>

  <p> <input id="test" type="checkbox"> <span>Everything in this paragraph should have a green background.</span> </p>

 </div>