Learn English at Engspire โCompound Nouns
Words can be combined to form compound nouns. These are very common, and new combinations are invented almost daily. They normally have two parts. The first part tells us what kind of object or person it is, or what its purpose is. The second part identifies the object or person in question. Compound nouns often have a meaning that is different, or more specific, than the two separate words.
| 1: Type or Purpose | 2: What or Who | Compound noun |
|---|---|---|
| police | man | policeman |
| boy | friend | boyfriend |
| water | tank | water tank |
| dining | table | dining-table |
You have noticed that the compound noun can be written either as a single word, as a word with a hyphen, or as two words. There are no clear rules about this. A good rule of thumb is to write the most common compound nouns as one word, and the others as two words.
The elements in a compound noun are very diverse parts of speech.
| Compound Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
Noun + Noun | bedroom |
| water tank | |
| motorcycle | |
| printer cartridge | |
| -- | |
Noun + Verb | rainfall |
| haircut | |
| train-spotting | |
Noun + Adverb | hanger-on |
| passer-by | |
| -- | |
Verb + Noun | washing machine |
| driving license | |
| swimming pool | |
| -- | |
Verb + Adverb | lookout |
| take-off | |
| drawback | |
| -- | |
Adverb + Noun | dry-cleaning |
| public speaking | |
| -- | |
Adjective + Noun | greenhouse |
| software | |
| redhead | |
| -- | |
Adverb + Verb | output |
| overthrow | |
| upturn | |
| input |
Pronunciation of Compound Nouns
Stress is important in pronunciation, as it distinguishes between a compound noun and an adjective with a noun. In compound nouns, the stress usually falls on the first syllable.
Examples
- a 'greenhouse = place where we grow plants
(Compound Noun)- a green 'house = house painted green
(Adjective + Noun)- a 'bluebird = type of bird
(Compound Noun)- a blue 'bird = any bird with blue feathers
(Adjective + Noun)