Lecture (6) Compound Nouns
Asst. Lect. Nuralhuda A. Jasim Unit Ten
COMPOUND NOUNS
Words can be combined to form compound nouns. These are very common, and new
combinations are invented almost daily. They normally have two parts. The first part tells
us what kind of object or person it is, or what its purpose is. The second part identifies the
object or person in question. Compound nouns often have a meaning that is different, or
more specific, than the two separate words.
First part: type or purpose Second part: what or who Compound noun
police man policeman
boy friend boyfriend
water tank water tank
dining table dining-table
Compound nouns are words for people, animals, places, things, or ideas, made up of two
or more words. Most compound nouns are made with nouns that have been modified
by adjectives or other nouns.
In many compound nouns, the first word describes or modifies the second word, giving
us insight into what kind of thing an item is, or providing us with clues about the item’s
purpose. The second word usually identifies the item.
Compound nouns are sometimes one word, like toothpaste, haircut, or bedroom. These
are often referred to as closed or solid compound nouns.
Sometimes compound nouns are connected with a hyphen: dry-cleaning, daughter-in-law,
and well-being are some examples of hyphenated compound nouns.
Sometimes compound nouns appear as two separate words: full moon, Christmas tree,
and swimming pool are some examples of compound nouns that are formed with two
separate words. These are often referred to as open or spaced compound nouns.
You have noticed that the compound noun can be written either as a single word, as a
word with a hyphen, or as two words. There are no clear rules about this. A good rule of
thumb is to write the most common compound nouns as one word, and the others as two
words.
Generally, the first word in the compound noun tells us what kind of person or thing it is
or what purpose he, she, or it serves, while the second word defines the person or object,
telling us who or what it is. For example:
water + bottle = water bottle (a bottle used for water)
dining + room = dining room (a room used for dining)
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Lecture (6) Compound Nouns
Asst. Lect. Nuralhuda A. Jasim Unit Ten
back + pack = backpack (a pack you wear on your back)
police + man = policeman (a police officer who is a man)
Like other nouns, compound nouns can be modified by other adjectives. For example:
“I need to buy a large water bottle.”
“That’s a beautiful dining room.”
“My old backpack is still my favorite.”
“A lone policeman foiled the attempted robbery.”
The elements in a compound noun are very diverse parts of speech.
Compound elements Examples
noun + noun bedroom
water tank
motorcycle
printer cartridge
noun + verb rainfall
haircut
train-spotting
noun + adverb hanger-on
passer-by
verb + noun washing machine
driving license
swimming pool
verb + adverb lookout
take-off
drawback
adverb + noun onlooker
bystander
adjective + verb dry-cleaning
public speaking
adjective + noun greenhouse
software
redhead
adverb + verb output
overthrow
upturn
input
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Lecture (6) Compound Nouns
Asst. Lect. Nuralhuda A. Jasim Unit Ten
PRONUNCIATION
Stress is important in pronunciation, as it distinguishes between a compound noun and an
adjective with a noun. In compound nouns, the stress usually falls on the first syllable.
EXAMPLES
a 'greenhouse = place where we grow plants (compound noun)
a green 'house = house painted green (adjective and noun)
a 'bluebird = type of bird (compound noun)
a blue 'bird = any bird with blue feathers (adjective and noun)
Compound nouns can be made with two nouns:
Let’s just wait at this bus stop.
I love watching fireflies on warm summer nights.
While you’re at the store, please pick up some toothpaste, a six-pack of ginger ale, and
some egg rolls.
Compound nouns can be made with an adjective and a noun:
Let’s watch the full moon come up over the mountain.
Please erase the blackboard for me.
Compound nouns can be made with a verb and a noun:
Be sure to add bleach to the washing machine.
Let’s be sure to stay somewhere with a swimming pool.
Compound nouns can be made with a noun and a verb:
He always gets up before sunrise.
I really could use an updated hairstyle.
* The two parts may be written in a number of ways:-
1. Sometimes the two words are joined together.
Example: tooth + paste = toothpaste | bed + room = bedroom
2. Sometimes they are joined using a hyphen.
Example: check-in
3. Sometimes they appear as two separate words.
Example: full moon
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Lecture (6) Compound Nouns
Asst. Lect. Nuralhuda A. Jasim Unit Ten
A single word Two words Hyphenated
haircut rain forest self-esteem
toothpaste ice cream brother-in-law
Compound nouns can be written:
As one word.
bookcase wallpaper
birdcage snowflake
As two words.
post office fire engine
eye shadow cough sweets
With a hyphen.
window-cleaner air-conditioning
lamp-post tee-shirt
Below are the various combinations used to create compound nouns.
Noun + noun
There are a great number of compound nouns formed using the noun +
noun combination. For example:
backpack
bathroom
bathtub
bedroom
bus stop
fish tank
football
handbag
motorcycle
shopkeeper
tablecloth
toothpaste
wallpaper
water bottle
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Lecture (6) Compound Nouns
Asst. Lect. Nuralhuda A. Jasim Unit Ten
website
wristwatch
Adjective + noun
There are also many compound nouns that are formed using the adjective + noun-
combination. For example:
full moon
blackberry
blackbird
blackboard
cell phone
mobile phone
hardware
highway
greenhouse
redhead
six-pack
small talk
software
whiteboard
Other combinations
Although the noun + noun and adjective + noun combinations are the most common,
there are also plenty of other possibilities for forming compound nouns. For example:
Combination Examples
noun + verb haircut, rainfall, sunrise, sunset
noun + preposition hanger-on, passerby
noun + prepositional
brother-in-law, mother-in-law
phrase
noun + adjective cupful, spoonful
breakfast, washing machine, runway, pickpocket,
verb + noun
swimming pool
preposition + noun bystander, influx, onlooker, underpants, upstairs
verb + preposition check-in, checkout/check-out, drawback, lookout, makeup
adjective + verb dry cleaning, public speaking
preposition + verb input, output, overthrow, upturn
Pluralizing compound nouns
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Lecture (6) Compound Nouns
Asst. Lect. Nuralhuda A. Jasim Unit Ten
We usually pluralize a compound noun by adding an “-s” or “-es” to the main word, or
the defining word, of the compound noun. This is usually the second word, but not
always. For example:
Singular Plural
bedroom bedrooms
football footballs
water bottle water bottles
full moon full moons
BUT
Singular Plural
secretary general secretaries general
mother-in-law mothers-in-law
passerby / passer-by passersby / passers-by
When it’s not obvious which of the words is the defining word, we pluralize the end of it.
For example:
Singular Plural
haircut haircuts
check-in check-ins
checkout / check-out checkouts / check-outs
upturn upturns
