Compound Nouns For Intermediate learners

Understand the structure and usage of compound nouns such as 'notebook' and 'bus stop'. Practical examples and exercises enhance learning.

What are "Compound Nouns" in English Grammar?

What Are Compound Nouns?

When two or more words are put together and used as a noun in a sentence a 'compound noun' is formed.

Using Compound Nouns

'Compound nouns' are used to make new words with new meanings:

Example

Let's watch football.

Foot (noun) + ball (noun) = football (compound noun)

She is his girlfriend.

Girl (noun) + friend (noun) = girlfriend (compound noun)

How to Make Compound Nouns

There are different ways to make compound nouns. Here are the most common structures:

noun + noun

adjective + noun

noun + verb

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You can see a few examples below:

Example

Air + port → airport

Noun + noun → compound noun

High + school → high school

Adjective + noun → compound nouns

Rain + fall → rainfall

Noun + verb → compound noun

Warning

Regardless of whether a verb, an adjective, or a noun is added to the noun, a compound noun is always considered a noun, rather than a verb or an adjective.

Countable or Uncountable

Compound nouns can be categorized into two groups based on whether they can be counted or not:

Countable compound nouns

Uncountable compound nouns

Example

I found two car parks.

Here the compound noun 'car park' is countable.

I hate fast food.

Here the compound noun 'fast food' is uncountable.

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