Compound Noun

A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words which function as a single unit to name a person, place, thing, or idea. These words can be combined in various ways, such as by being written as a single word (e.g., “toothbrush”), as separate words (e.g., “high school”), or with a hyphen (e.g., “mother-in-law”). The individual words in a compound noun can be nouns, adjectives, verbs, or prepositions, but together they form a new noun with a distinct meaning that often differs from the meanings of the individual words.

What Is a Compound Noun?

A compound noun is a type of noun formed by combining two or more words to create a single term that names a person, place, thing, or idea. These combinations can be written as a single word (e.g., “notebook”), as separate words (e.g., “coffee table”), or with a hyphen (e.g., “brother-in-law”). The constituent words can be nouns, adjectives, verbs, or prepositions, and together they produce a new noun with a meaning that is often distinct from the meanings of the individual words.

Examples of Compound Nouns

Single Words:

1. Toothpaste
2. Raincoat
3. Sunflower
4. Bedroom
5. Newspaper
6. Blackboard
7. Handbag
8. Haircut
9. Football
10. Keyboard

Separate Words:

1. High school
2. Coffee table
3. Police officer
4. Washing machine
5. Bus stop
6. Post office
7. Full moon
8. Swimming pool
9. Living room
10. Fire station

Hyphenated Words:

1. Mother-in-law
2. Twenty-one
3. Well-being
4. Brother-in-law
5. Self-esteem
6. Check-in
7. Daughter-in-law
8. Runner-up
9. Long-term
10. Dry-cleaning

Types of Compound nouns

Compound nouns combine two or more words to create a single noun. These combinations can come in various forms, each having unique rules and usages. Here are the main types of compound nouns:

1. Closed Compound Nouns

Closed compound nouns are formed when two words are combined without any space or hyphen. Over time, these word pairs have come to be accepted as a single word.

Examples: Basketball
Bedroom

2. Hyphenated Compound Nouns

Hyphenated compound nouns use a hyphen to connect the words. These compounds often include nouns that would be confusing or misinterpreted without the hyphen.

Examples: Mother-in-law
Six-pack

3. Open Compound Nouns

Open compound nouns consist of two or more words that are used together as a single concept but are written with a space between them.

Examples: Post office
Living room

Examples of Compound Nouns in a Sentence

1. The toothpaste is on the bathroom shelf.
2. She wore a raincoat during the storm.
3. A beautiful sunflower bloomed in the garden.
4. I need to clean my bedroom.
5. He read the newspaper every morning.
6. The teacher wrote on the blackboard.
7. She carried a handbag to the party.
8. He got a new haircut last week.
9. The football game was exciting.
10. She typed on her keyboard.
11. They attended high school together.
12. The coffee table was full of magazines.
13. The police officer directed traffic.
14. The washing machine is broken.
15. We waited at the bus stop.
16. She went to the post office to mail a letter.
17. The full moon was bright and beautiful.
18. The kids swam in the swimming pool.
19. They relaxed in the living room.
20. The fire station is near our house.
21. Her mother-in-law is visiting.
22. The winner scored twenty-one points.
23. Meditation is good for your well-being.
24. His brother-in-law works in finance.
25. She has high self-esteem.
26. Please check in at the check-in counter.
27. Her daughter-in-law is a doctor.
28. He finished as the runner-up in the competition.
29. They planned a long-term project.
30. I took my suit to the dry-cleaning shop.
31. The bookstore is having a sale.
32. She gave him a birthday present.
33. The airport was crowded.
34. He ordered a hamburger for lunch.
35. The doorbell rang loudly.
36. They have a greenhouse in their backyard.
37. I need to buy some sunglasses.
38. The laptop battery is dead.
39. He used a dishwasher to clean the dishes.
40. The snowman melted in the sun.
41. She has a passport to travel abroad.
42. The playground is full of children.
43. He got a headache after the long day.
44. The workshop was very informative.
45. They stayed in a hotel room.
46. The ice cream is melting.
47. He missed the bus stop.
48. The lighthouse guided the ships.
49. They walked on the sidewalk.
50. She put on her earrings before leaving.

Compound Nouns List

Compound Nouns	Compound Nouns	Compound Nouns
Butterfly	Hairdryer	Spaceship
Goldfish	Bookcase	Headphone
Spaceship	Fireworks	Skateboard
Waterfall	Sandcastle	Bedroom
Hairbrush	Cupcake	Firefly
Dragonfly	Jellyfish	Ladybug
Snowflake	Toothpick	Birdhouse
Traffic light	Credit card	Dining room
Traffic jam	Shopping mall	Cell phone
Car park	Roller coaster	Peanut butter
First aid	Dog house	Alarm clock
Flower pot	Baby sitter	Dinner table
Book cover	Mail box	Ice cube
Lemon juice	Office chair	Merry-go-round
Part-time	Up-to-date	Self-control
Five-year-old	Editor-in-chief	Well-known
Six-pack	Right-of-way	Commander-in-chief
Full-time	All-inclusive	Long-lasting
State-of-the-art	Eight-year-old	Self-assured
Non-stop	Self-taught	Brother-in-law

How to Make a Compound noun

To create a compound noun, follow these steps:

1. Identify Relevant Words: Start by selecting two or more words that you want to combine. These can be nouns, adjectives, verbs, or prepositions. The words should relate to each other in a way that forms a specific meaning when combined.
2. Combine the Words: Depending on the desired form, combine the words in one of three ways:
   • Single Word: Write the words together without spaces (e.g., “toothpaste”).
   • Separate Words: Write the words with a space between them (e.g., “bus stop”).
   • Hyphenated: Connect the words with a hyphen (e.g., “mother-in-law”).

Consider the meaning of the combination and ensure that it makes sense and clearly represents the intended object, person, place, or idea. For example, “sun” and “flower” combine to create “sunflower,” a specific type of flower. By thoughtfully selecting and combining words, you can create compound nouns that effectively convey new and specific meanings.

Rules of Compound nouns

1. Capitalization

• Capitalize the first letter in titles or at the beginning of sentences.
• Capitalize all parts of proper nouns.

2. Pluralization

• Generally, pluralize the main noun (e.g., mothers-in-law).
• If no main noun, pluralize at the end (e.g., runner-ups).

3. Hyphenation

• Use hyphens for clarity and readability.
• Hyphenate when used as modifiers before another noun (e.g., well-known author).

4. Consistency

• Use the same form throughout your text.

5. Combining Parts of Speech

• Common combinations: Noun + Noun, Adjective + Noun, Verb + Noun.

Compound nouns Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify the Compound Nouns

Read the sentences below and identify the compound nouns.

1. She loves to read the newspaper every morning.
2. They are going to the swimming pool this weekend.
3. He bought a new notebook for school.
4. The mother-in-law is visiting for dinner.
5. The children built a sandcastle on the beach.

Exercise 2: Form Compound Nouns

Combine the words in the parentheses to form compound nouns and complete the sentences.

1. I need a new (hair, brush) for my trip.
2. They put up a (tent, pole) in the backyard.
3. The (baby, sitter) will arrive at 6 PM.
4. He received a (birthday, gift) from his friend.
5. The (police, officer) directed the traffic.

Exercise 3: Match the Words to Form Compound Nouns

Match the words in Column A with the words in Column B to form compound nouns.

Column A	Column B
Sun	Stop
Tooth	House
Rain	Coat
Book	Light
Fire	Flower

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Use the given compound nouns in sentences of your own.

1. Fireworks
2. Toothpaste
3. Post office
4. Waterfall
5. Brother-in-law

Answers

Exercise 1: Identify the Compound Nouns

1. She loves to read the newspaper every morning.
2. They are going to the swimming pool this weekend.
3. He bought a new notebook for school.
4. The mother-in-law is visiting for dinner.
5. The children built a sandcastle on the beach.

Exercise 2: Form Compound Nouns

1. I need a new hairbrush for my trip.
2. They put up a tent pole in the backyard.
3. The babysitter will arrive at 6 PM.
4. He received a birthday gift from his friend.
5. The police officer directed the traffic.

Exercise 3: Match the Words to Form Compound Nouns

1. Sun flower
2. Tooth paste
3. Rain coat
4. Book store
5. Fire house

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

1. Fireworks: The fireworks lit up the night sky during the celebration.
2. Toothpaste: He squeezed a small amount of toothpaste onto his toothbrush.
3. Post office: I need to go to the post office to send a package.
4. Waterfall: We hiked to the top of the mountain to see the beautiful waterfall.
5. Brother-in-law: My brother-in-law is coming over for dinner tonight.

FAQS