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