Compound nouns are nouns that are made from two or more words. They are combined to create a new meaning. Each Compound Noun acts as a single unit and can be modified by adjectives and other nouns.
In this combination, we usually find two parts where one is a noun and the other word can be a noun, an adjective, a verb or a preposition. We also find some other combinations. (List is given below)
There are three types of Compound Nouns:
Open Compound Nouns (with spaces) – air pack, ice cream, root beer, coffee table, fish tank, swimming pool, full moon, roller coaster, bus stop, sleeping bag, first aid, Christmas, tree, Christmas card, bomb squad, case study, death rate, shock wave, street smarts etc.,
As we discussed in the beginning paragraph of this topic, we find two parts in every Compound Noun.
Let us observe these two parts.
The words earth and quake are two different nouns with their own meaning, but when we combine them together they form a new word – earthquake giving us new meaning.
Similarly, the word black is an adjective and board is a noun, but when we combine them together they form a new word – blackboard with a new meaning.
What we find in both these examples is that the first word modifies or describes the second word and when combined with the second word, it tells us what kind of object or person the noun is. And the second part identifies the object or person in question.
The following is a list of Compound Nouns with their different combinations of other words.
madman, stronghold, nobleman, sweetheart, blackboard, full moon, black eye, blue jeans, hot-dog, shorthand, blackbird, quicksilver, national flag, historical monument, economic data, traditional values etc.,
Verb +
Noun
pickpocket, tell-tale, stop-gap, make-shift, spendthrift, breakfast, daredevil, passport, breakwater, swimming pool, cross-road, cookbook, washing machine, jump rope, etc.
Noun +
Verb
browbeat, daybreak, toothache, bloodshed, earthquake, root cause, backbite, cloud burst, bee sting, handshake, snowdrop, air dash, tongue slip, bookmark, headline, bus stop, timeline, earmark, monthly pay, tie knot,, house arrest, telephone call, headache, moonlight, sunset, sunrise, haircut, waylay, etc.
underworld, underground, underline, underclass, outlaw, forethought, offspring, offshore, off-day, overcoat, afternoon, inside, inbox, in group, in service, middleman, downfall, downhill, upland, top-hat, inmate, foresight, onlooker, forehead, on line, outpatient, overfed, overweight, byline, bypath, bystander etc.
With a letter
Email, H–bomb, T-shirt, U-turn, X chromosome, X-rated, Y-axis, X-ray etc.,
Family Titles and Certain other Phrases
sister-in-law, father-in-law, step-great-granddaughter, a free-for-all, a good–for–nothing, a know-it-all, make-believe, hide-and-seek, a pick-me-up, a stick-in-the-mud, a johnny-come-lately, man-of-war, brothers-in-arms,etc.,
Generally, plural forms of a compound noun are formed by adding –’s’ or –’es’ to the base or important word. The following list illustrates the singular and plural forms of the Compound Nouns.
Compound Nouns in Singular
Compound Nouns in Plural
By adding -’s’ to the base or important word
Governor-general
Governors-general
Doctor Of Philosophy
Doctors Of Philosophy
Commander-in-chief
Commanders-in-chief
Brother-in-law
Brothers-in-law
Father-in-law
Fathers-in-law
Mother-in-law
Mothers-in-law
Sister-in-law
Sisters-in-law
Son-in-law
Sons-in-law
Passer-by
Passers-by
Looker-on
Lookers -on
Sergeant Major
Sergeants Major
Heir Apparent
Heirs Apparent
By removing -’y’ and adding -’ies’ to the base or important word
Attorney-general
Attorneys-general
Assistant Secretary Of State
Assistant Secretaries Of State
Notary Public
Notaries Public
Lady-in-waiting
ladies-in-waiting
lily-of-the-valley
lilies-of-the-valley
By adding -’s’ or -’es’ to the word ending
Step-parent
Step-parents
Step-daughter
Step-daughters
Step-mother
Step-mothers
Maid-servant
Maid-servants
General Staff
General Staff(s)
Court-Martial
Court-Martials / Courts-Martial
Vice-Principal
Vice-Principals
Book-case
Book-cases
Go-between
Go-betweens
Has-been
Has-beens
Good-for-nothing
Good-for-nothings
Forget-me-not
Forget-me-nots
Higher-up
Higher-ups
Grown-up
Grown-ups
Mix-up
Mix-ups
Takeoff
Takeoffs
Armful
Armfuls
Handful
Handfuls
Cupful
Cupfuls
Mouthful
Mouthfuls
Tablespoonful
Tablespoonfuls
Blackboard
Blackboards
Bystander
Bystanders
Toothbrush
Toothbrushes
By changing both the words
Man-servant
Men-servants
Man-driver
Men-drivers
Woman-writer
Women-writers
Woman-teacher
Women-teachers
Woman-doctor
Woman-doctors (Women-doctors)
By changing words ‘man and woman’ into ‘men and women’
Fisherman
Fishermen
Workman
Workmen
Boatman
Boatmen
Man-of-war
Men-of-war
Saleswoman
Saleswomen
Workingwoman
Workingwomen
By adding -’s’ to the word ‘man’, when it refers to any ethnic group, race or civilian
Mussalman
Mussalmans
German
Germans
Norman
Normans
Brahman
Brahmans
Other phrases
Many Stops For Buses
Many Bus Stops
150 Trees With Oranges
150 Orange Trees
How to form possessives of Compound Nouns:
Generally, the possessive form of the Compound Noun is formed by adding -’s’ to the ending word, regardless of whether it is singular or plural. The following list illustrates the Possessive Form in singular and plural of the Compound Nouns.
Compound Nouns
Compound Nouns:
What are Compound Nouns?
Compound nouns are nouns that are made from two or more words. They are combined to create a new meaning. Each Compound Noun acts as a single unit and can be modified by adjectives and other nouns.
In this combination, we usually find two parts where one is a noun and the other word can be a noun, an adjective, a verb or a preposition. We also find some other combinations. (List is given below)
There are three types of Compound Nouns:
How to form Compound Nouns:
As we discussed in the beginning paragraph of this topic, we find two parts in every Compound Noun.
Let us observe these two parts.
The words earth and quake are two different nouns with their own meaning, but when we combine them together they form a new word – earthquake giving us new meaning.
Similarly, the word black is an adjective and board is a noun, but when we combine them together they form a new word – blackboard with a new meaning.
What we find in both these examples is that the first word modifies or describes the second word and when combined with the second word, it tells us what kind of object or person the noun is. And the second part identifies the object or person in question.
The following is a list of Compound Nouns with their different combinations of other words.
How to form plurals of Compound Nouns:
Generally, plural forms of a compound noun are formed by adding –’s’ or –’es’ to the base or important word. The following list illustrates the singular and plural forms of the Compound Nouns.
How to form possessives of Compound Nouns:
Generally, the possessive form of the Compound Noun is formed by adding -’s’ to the ending word, regardless of whether it is singular or plural. The following list illustrates the Possessive Form in singular and plural of the Compound Nouns.
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