LoginCompound Nouns
Dive into compound nouns, examining how they form and their contexts. Examples like 'mother-in-law' and 'firefighter' are included, plus a quiz.
What Are Compound Nouns?
One common way of creating new words is by combining existing words together. When two or more words are combined to form a single noun, the resulting word is called a compound noun. These nouns act as a single entity and often have a different meaning than the individual words that make them up.
Compound Nouns: Structure
Every compound noun has at least two elements:
head
dependent(s)
What is a Head?
The head, also known as the principal or nucleus, is the most important element of a compound word. It carries the core meaning of the word. For instance, in the compound noun "basketball," the head is "ball" because a basketball is a type of ball, not a type of basket.
foot (noun) + ball (noun) = football (noun)
In this example; 'ball' is the head and it is a noun, so 'football' is a noun.
What Is a Dependent?
All compound nouns consist of a head noun and one or more dependents, which can be verbs, nouns, preposition, adjective etc. Look at these examples:
Here is your toothpaste, it costs one dollar, please.
Here, the term 'paste' is the head and the term 'tooth' is the dependent.
The police arrested the pickpocket in the market.
In this example, 'pick' is a verb which is the dependent for the head noun 'pocket,' together forming a compound noun.
Compound Noun Structure: Based on Head and Dependent(s)
Here are the structures that are used to make compound nouns.
Noun + Noun
One way to create a compound noun is by combining two nouns together.
My grandmother is a housewife.
His classmates are getting to know him better.
Adj + Noun
Compound nouns can also be formed by combining an adjective with a noun.
Ronnie is a redhead.
Here, the term 'red' is the adjective for the noun 'head.'
My high school teacher is a cruel man.
Noun + Verb
A compound noun can also be created by adding a verb to a noun.
She has got a new haircut.
In this example, 'hair' is a noun and 'cut' is a verb.
Below-normal rainfall has led to a major water shortage.
Verb + Noun
It is also possible to combine a noun and a verb in the reverse order, with the noun coming after the verb. For example:
The teacher used a stopwatch to time the students' performance.
We had breakfast at a nice café this morning.
Noun + Preposition
A compound noun can also be formed by adding a preposition to a noun.
She is this year's runner-up.
In this example, 'up' is a preposition and 'runner' is a noun.
I saw another passerby licking ice cream.
Gerund + Noun
A compound noun can also be created by combining a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing) with a noun.
She needs a washing machine.
Here, 'washing' is a verb made of 'wash + -ing' and 'machine' is a noun.
I need to renew my driving license before it expires.
Preposition + Noun
A compound noun can also be formed by adding a noun to a preposition.
Innocent bystanders were killed by the blast.
Here, 'by' is a preposition and 'standers' is a noun.
The underground was filled with water because of the earthquake.
Adj + Gerund
Compound nouns can also be created by adding a gerund, to an adjective.
The dry-cleaning was closed for three hours.
In this example, 'dry' is an adjective and 'cleaning' is a verb that is made of 'clean + -ing.'
Verb + Preposition/Adverb
A compound noun can also be created by adding a preposition or adverb to a verb.
Your only drawback is being self-centered.
In this example, 'draw' is a verb and 'back' is a preposition.
Take-offs are not allowed in stormy weather.
Preposition/Adverb + Verb
A compound noun can also be formed by adding a verb to a preposition or adverb.
Her daily intake of calories is way too high.
Here, 'in' is a preposition followed by 'take' which is a verb.
You don't need much input for the project.
Compound Nouns Structure: Based on Spacing
There are three types of compound nouns based on spacing:
Open or Spaced compound nouns: there is a space between the words;
dining room, water tank
Closed or Solid compound nouns: there is no space between the words;
football, wallpaper
Hyphenated compound nouns: there is a hyphen between the words.
check-out, dry-cleaning
Plural Compound Nouns
When making a compound noun plural, there are some general rules to follow. If the compound noun is a single word (closed compound noun), you can simply add -s or -es to the end of the word. However, if the compound noun consists of separate words, whether hyphenated or spaced, you should add -s or -es to the end of the head noun. Take a look at some examples:
newspaper → newspapers
swimming pool → swimming pools
In this example, the head of the compound noun is pool and swimming is a modifier describing it. So we add 's' to the head of the compound noun.
sister-in-law → sisters-in-law
Here, the most significant word is 'sister,' therefore we add 's' to that word.
Possessive Form of Compound Nouns
To make possessive compound nouns, the apostrophe + s is added to the end of the compound noun. If the compound noun is plural, try to rewrite the sentence to avoid the awkwardness.
The underworld's criminal activities in New York City is rising rapidly.
My teacup's handle is broken.
The screens of the cellphones were all cracked.
Instead of "The cellphones' screens were all cracked"
Compound Noun vs. Noun Phrase
Although compound nouns are made up of two or more words and may resemble a noun phrase, the two are actually different. A compound noun functions as a single word rather than a combination of a modifier and a noun. Therefore, the compound noun has a unique meaning that is sometimes different from the sum of meanings of the words that make it. Additionally, you cannot separate a compound noun and insert modifiers between its parts. As a result, adverbs cannot directly modify compound nouns.
In contrast, noun phrases are typically composed of multiple words, each of which have independent meanings, and the meaning of the phrase is the sum of the meanings of the words. Also, you can always expand a noun phrase by adding more modifiers. Compare the examples:
the blueberries vs. the blue car
In this example, we can easily separate blue and car with the same meaning and put modifiers between them: 'The blue Italian car.' But we cannot say the 'blue Italian berries.'
a haircut vs. a nice haircut
We cannot say 'a really haircut,' but we can say 'a really nice haircut.'
deep breath and heavy rain → noun phrases
really deep breath ✓ nightly heavy rain ✓
Compound Nouns: Stress Patterns
All monosyllabic nouns and adjectives are stressed. But in a compound noun, the stress usually falls on the first word.
Stress is an important aspect of pronunciation because it helps to distinguish between a compound noun and a phrase consisting of modifiers and a noun.
a white house
In this example, both 'white' and 'house' are equally stressed. It means a house which is painted white.
the White House
Here, 'white' is more stressed than 'house' and it means the 'Whitehouse,' the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States.
What Is the Difference between Using Compound Nouns and 'Of'?
Sometimes, you may only be allowed to use compound nouns instead of the preposition 'of', while in other cases, both options are acceptable.
Describing Functions
Compound nouns are often used to describe the purpose or function of an object. When talking about an object's purpose, you cannot use the preposition "of" to connect the noun and its function. Instead, the two elements are combined into a single word to form a compound noun that conveys the object's purpose or function. Check out the examples:
He has the most fabulous raincoat. → (Not 'He has the most fabulous coat of rain.')
Sara washed the teacups. → (Not 'Sara washed the cups of the tea.')
Describing Materials
Compound nouns can be used to describe the material that something is made of. In these cases, it's also acceptable to use the preposition "of" to express an object's composition or material. Here are a few examples:
✓ This is a wool coat, it is really expensive.
✓ This coat of wool is really expensive.
Describing the Container
Both compound nouns and the preposition "of" can be used to specify the container of a substance. However, it's important to note that using a compound noun places emphasis on the container itself, while using "of" emphasizes the substance inside the container. Check out the examples:
✓ The milk jug was full of creamy, white milk.
In this example, the emphasis is on the mug which is the container for the milk..
✓ The pool of dirt made the dragon move more slowly.
Here, the emphasis is on the dirt that is in the pool.
Describing Job Titles
Compound nouns can be used to describe job titles, and in this case, they may be written as spaced or solid compound nouns. It's important to note that the preposition "of" cannot be used to refer to a job title. Instead, the job title should be expressed as a compound noun to convey the intended meaning.
My father is a fireman. (Not 'My father is a man of fire.')
In this example, the term 'fireman' is a solid compound noun.
My girlfriend's brother is a flight attendant. (Not 'My girlfriend's brother is an attendant of flight.)
Here, 'flight attendant' is a spaced compound noun.
Review
'Compound nouns' consist of:
Only one Head
One or more Dependents
Compound Nouns Structures Based on Spaces
without space | with space | with hyphen |
|---|---|---|
keyboard | half sister | tractor-trailer |
footprint | washing machine | comedy-ballet |
basketball | roller coaster | color-filter |
Both the head and the dependent in a compound noun can belong to different word classes, such as adjectives, prepositions, nouns, and so on.
Quiz:
Match each compound noun with its structure.
Fill the table about the compound nouns indicated on the head row. (There are four extra options.)
| playground | black box | runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
Structure | + Noun | + Noun | Noun + |
Spacing type | |||
Plural form |
Which sentence is incorrect in its treatment of compound nouns and noun phrases?
I got a really nice haircut.
I admired the blue Italian car.
She was talking to her classmate.
I watered the plants in the green big house.
Fill the blanks with correct words based on the content of the lesson. (There is one extra option.)
In the compound noun "bathroom", the word "bath" is the
and "room" is the
.
Compound nouns may be open, closed, or
.
Stress in a compound noun usually falls on the
word.
To form a possessive compound noun, add an apostrophe + s to the
word.
Unlike noun phrases, compound nouns
be expanded by adding more modifiers.
Which of the following compound nouns can be replaced by an equivalent preposition phrase using "of"?
sugar bowl
bath tub
babysitter
whiteboard
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