LoginCompounding and Blending
In this lesson you will learn how compounding and blending create new words in English. Practice with examples and exercises to improve your understanding.
What Is Compounding?
Compounding is a word formation process in which two or more words are combined to create a new word with a new meaning. In a compound word, the meaning of the whole word is often different from the meanings of the individual words that make it up.
Compounding: Types
There are three types of compounding:
Open Compounding: when there is a space between the two elements.
living room
half sister
full moon
Hyphenated Compounding: when there is a hyphen between the two words.
check-in
long-term
seventy-two
Close Compounding: when the two elements are written together to create a new word.
railroad
upstream
skateboard
Tip
There is no specific rule on how to write a compound word. Some words can be written in all three forms (sixpack, six-pack, six pack), while others have a fixed form (breakfast, bookcase). It is best to consult a dictionary to find the correct form.
As a general rule, the words in a compound adjective are hyphenated when they are used before a noun (a well-known teacher) but not when they come after the noun (The teacher is well known).
How to Form Compound Words?
There are several ways to make a compound word. Let us discuss them:
Noun-noun compounds consist of two nouns combined together to make a noun.
fireworks
waistline
textbook
ice cream
Verb-noun compounds consist of a verb that is placed before a noun to make a noun.
killjoy
breakfast
pickpocket
Adjective-noun compounds consist of an adjective that comes before a noun to make a noun.
fast-food
easy chair
Verb-noun compounds are formed when a verb is followed by a noun to make a collocation that acts as a verb.
take a walk
go shopping
Noun-verb compounds are formed from a noun that precedes a verb to make a new verb:
breastfeed
sunbathe
Adjective-participle compounds: adjectives stand before present participles (gerunds) or past participles to make an adjective.
good-looking
Here, we have a present participle (gerund).
never-ending
As you can see, a present participle is used here.
double-sided
Here, we have a past participle.
low-paid
As you can see, a past participle is used here.
Adjective-noun compounds are formed when an adjective stands before a noun to make an adjective:
blue-collar
short-term
long-distance
Noun-adjective compounds are formed when a noun is placed before an adjective/adverb to make a compound adjective:
gender-neutral
born-again
cruelty-free
Verb-adverb compounds are formed when a verb comes before an adverb to make a noun.
look-out
drawback
take-off
Adverb-noun compounds are formed when an adverb comes before a noun to make a compound noun.
onlooker
bystander
Adverb-verb compounds are formed from an adverb placed before a verb which makes a compound noun.
output
upturn
input
The Plural Form of Compound Words
Compound nouns are usually pluralized by adding the inflection -s to the end of the word:
a skateboard: three skateboards
a game console: several game consoles
In compound nouns that are made by a noun and an adverb, the first part (noun) becomes plural:
a hanger-on → several hangers-on
a listener-in → several listeners-in
a passer-by → several passers-by
Compound nouns that end in -'in-law' can be plural both on the first and the final part.
father-in-law → fathers-in-law or father-in-laws
brother-in-law → brothers-in-law or brother-in-laws
Rhyming Compounds
Rhyming compounds are a type of compound word that is formed by combining two words that rhyme. In a rhyming compound, the final syllables of the two words have the same sound. This formation process is mostly found in child talk (and talk addressed to children). For example:
lovely-dovely
chiller-killer
tootsie-wootsie
Bunnie-wunnie
Note that not all compounded words are rhyming compounds.
Warning
The pronunciation of a compound noun is different from an adjective with a noun. Stress is very important in this case. In compound nouns, the stress usually falls on the first syllable. For example:
a 'greenhouse = place where we grow plants (compound noun) Vs. a green 'house = a house painted green (adjective and noun)
What Is Blending?
Blending is a word formation process in which two or more words are combined to create a new word that merges the sounds and meanings of the original words.
Blending: Types
We have two main types of blending, which have been listed below:
Attributive blends: a blended word in which one word is the head and the other one is an attributive modifying the head.
porta light: a light that is portable
Here, 'Porta' is the attributive.
bathroom: a kind of room
Here, 'room' is the head.
Coordinate blends: a blended word in which there are two heads and they add equal meanings to the final blended word.
Breakfast + lunch = brunch
Transmitter + receiver = transceiver
How to Blend Words?
In the following, you will find ways to merge words to make a blended word:
the first part of the first word + the final part of the second word:
Breakfast + lunch = brunch
As you can see, this is a non-overlapping blend that means no letters are overlapping.
Smoke + fog = smog
As you can see, this is an overlapping blend: 'o' in two words overlaps.
the first part of the first word + the first part of the second word:
teleprinter + exchange = telex
In this example, we have an overlapping blend.
foreign + exchange = forex
the ending part of the first word + the ending part of the second word:
hello kitty + delicious = kittylicious
the first part of the first word + the whole second word:
Brad + Angelina = Brangelina
American + Indian = Amerindian
television + evangelist = televangelist
the first part of the first word + the whole or the ending part of the second word + the ending part of the first word (splinter):
chuckle + snort = chortle
disgusting + gross = disgrossting
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