COMPOUND
NOUNS
A compound noun is a noun that
is made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns in English are formed by
nouns modified by other nouns or adjectives.
For example:
a.The words tooth and paste
are each nouns in their own right, but if you join them together they form a
new word - toothpaste.
b.The word black is an adjective
and board is a noun, but if you join them together they
form a new word - blackboard.
In both these example the first word modifies or describes
the second word, telling us what kind of object or person it is, or what its
purpose is. And the second part identifies the object or person in question.
Compound nouns can also be formed using the following
combinations of words:-
Noun
+
Noun
toothpaste
Adjective
+
Noun
monthly ticket
Verb
+
Noun
swimming pool
Preposition
+
Noun
underground
Noun
+
Verb
haircut
Noun
+
Preposition
hanger on
Adjective
+
Verb
dry-cleaning
Preposition
+
Verb
output
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
COMPOUND NOUNS
1.Normally the last word is made plural:
Boy-friends break-ins travel
agents
But where man and
woman is prefixed both parts are made plural:
Men
drivers women drivers
2.The first word is made plural with compounds formed of
verb+er nouns+adverbs
Hangers-on lookers-on runners-up
And with compound
composed of noun+preposition+noun:
Ladies-in-waiting sister-in-law wards of court
3.Initials can be made plural:
MPs(Members
of Parliament)
VIPs(very
important persons)
OAPs(old
age pensioners)
UFOs(unidentified
flying objects)