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Class: C302
A compound noun is a noun that is made with two or more words. A compound noun is usually [noun + noun] or [adjective + noun], but there are other combinations (see below). It is important to understand and recognize compound nouns. Each compound noun acts as a single unit and can be modified by adjectives and other nouns. I. There are three forms for compound nouns:
Compound Nouns
1. open or spaced - space between words (tennis shoe) 2. hyphenated - hyphen between words (six-pack) 3. closed or solid - no space or hyphen between words (bedroom)
Here are some forms of compound nouns: Form Noun + noun Adjective + noun Noun + adjective Verb (-ing) + noun Noun + verb (-ing) Verb + preposition Noun + prepositional phrase Preposition + noun Example bus stop blackboard trunkful breakfast, swimming pool sunrise, train-spotting check-out mother-in-law underworld
II. Plural forms of compound nouns In general we make the plural of a compound noun by adding -s to the "base word" (the most "significant" word). Look at these examples:
Singular a tennis shoe one assistant headmaster the sergeant major a mother-in-law an assistant secretary of state my toothbrush a woman-doctor a doctor of philosophy a passerby Plural three tennis shoes five assistant headmasters some sergeants major two mothers-in-law three assistant secretaries of state our toothbrushes four women-doctors two doctors of philosophy two passersby, two passers-by
Class: C302
afterbirth aftermath aircraft airfield airmail armchair armpit background backlash backlog backside bandwagon banknote barman baseball bathroom bedspread bedtime billboard blackbird blacklist bulldog bullfight catfish chairman cheapskate checkup chopstick clockwork clotheshorse clothesline copycat copyright cornerstone countdown countryside courthouse courtyard cowboy crackdown
saltwater saucepan sawdust screenplay screenplay screwdriver seashell seaweed shellfish shoplifter shorthand shotgun sickbed sideburns sidekick sidewalk silkworm skullcap skyscraper slaughterhouse sleepwalking snowball snowfall softball songbird soundtrack spaceship sportsman spotlight stalemate stepchild stopwatch strongbox suitcase summertime sunspot sweetheart swordfish tablespoon teardrop
Class: C302
teaspoon toadstool toothpick tugboat watchdog wheelchair
Compound Adjective
A compound adjective is a group of adjective that combines with two or more than adjective. These are Forms of compound adjective:
Example a dark-blue uniform adj. adj. a navy-blue hat noun adj. an old looking building adj. part. present a fast running horse adv. part. present