Compound Noun Lesson: Meaning, Definition, Types and Examples

Lesson Overview

• What Is a Compound Noun?
• Definition of a Compound Noun
• Types of Compound Nouns With Examples
• Forming Compound Nouns
• Rules for Compound Nouns
• Compound Nouns Assessment

Compound nouns are like puzzle pieces of language that work together to name people, places, things, or ideas in a fun and creative way. Learn how these word combinations add nuances to everyday language!

What Is a Compound Noun?

Compound nouns are created by joining two or more words together to form a single noun. These words can be combined in different ways to make a meaningful term. 

Think of it like this: you're taking separate ingredients (words) and combining them to make a whole new dish (a compound noun).

Definition of a Compound Noun

According to Oxford Learner's Dictionaries: "a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a hyphen. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compound nouns."

Types of Compound Nouns With Examples

There are three types of compound nouns: spaced or open compound nouns, hyphenated compound nouns, and closed or solid compound nouns. Let's explore each type with examples.

1. Spaced or Open Compound Nouns

In this type, the words are written separately but work together to form a single noun.

Examples:

• Ice cream (a sweet frozen dessert)
• Post office (a place where you send and receive mail)
• Bus stop (a place where buses pick up or drop off passengers)

When you see the phrase "noun phrase," you can understand it as two words working together like an open compound noun.

2. Hyphenated Compound Nouns

Hyphenated compound nouns have a hyphen (-) connecting the words. The hyphen helps clarify the meaning.

Examples:

• Mother-in-law (the mother of your spouse)
• Well-being (a state of being healthy and happy)
• Editor-in-chief (the head editor of a publication)

These hyphenated words are a great way to form new nouns from phrases.

3. Closed or Solid Compound Nouns

Closed compound nouns are written as a single word. Over time, the separate words have been combined into one.

Examples:

• Toothbrush (a tool for cleaning teeth)
• Notebook (a book used for writing)
• Raincoat (a coat worn to protect against rain)
  
  

Forming Compound Nouns

Understanding how compound nouns are formed will help you recognize them in sentences. Let's explore the common ways of forming compound nouns:

1. Noun + Noun

This is the most common way to form a compound noun. Two separate nouns join to create a new word.

• Examples:
  • Toothbrush (tooth + brush)
  • Notebook (note + book)
  • Football (foot + ball)
    

2. Adjective + Noun

When an adjective is combined with a noun, it creates a compound noun that describes the noun more clearly.

• Examples:
  • Blackboard (black + board)
  • Blueberry (blue + berry)
  • Greenhouse (green + house)
    

3. Verb + Noun

Sometimes, a verb and a noun can combine to form a compound noun that describes an action or object related to that action.

• Examples:
  • Swimming pool (swimming + pool)
  • Washing machine (washing + machine)
  • Driving license (driving + license)
    

4. Noun + Verb

A noun and a verb can also combine to form a compound noun that explains something or someone that performs an action.

• Example:
  • Raindrop (rain + drop)
    • A raindrop is a small drop of rain that falls from the sky.
      

5. Preposition + Noun

A preposition (a word that shows position or direction) can combine with a noun to create a compound noun.

• Examples:
  • Overcoat (over + coat)
  • Underground (under + ground)
  • Inside job (inside + job)
    

6. Noun + Preposition

In this type, a noun comes first, followed by a preposition.

• Examples:
  • Sister-in-law (sister + in + law)
  • Passer-by (passer + by)

Mother-of-pearl (mother + of + pearl)

Rules for Compound Nouns

1. Spelling

Compound nouns can be written in three different ways: as one word (closed), with a hyphen (hyphenated), or as two words (open). It depends on how commonly the words are used together.

2. Plural Forms

For most compound nouns, you make them plural by adding an "s" at the end.

Examples: "Notebooks," "Snowmen."

But for some, you add the "s" to the main word.

Examples: "Mothers-in-law," "Passersby."

3. Possessive Forms

To show possession, you usually add an apostrophe + "s" at the end of the compound noun.

Examples: "The basketball's color," "The toothbrush's bristles."

Compound Nouns Assessment

1. Identify the compound noun in each sentence.

• The mail carrier delivered a package.
• I left my sunglasses on the bus stop bench.
• My mother-in-law is visiting this weekend.
• The full moon shone brightly in the night sky.
• Please put the milk carton back in the refrigerator.
  

2. Classify each compound noun as open, closed, or hyphenated.

• toothpaste
• high school
• sister-in-law
• dining room
• firefighter
  

Answers: 

Part 1:

• mail carrier
• sunglasses, bus stop
• mother-in-law
• full moon
• milk carton, refrigerator

Part 2:

• closed
• open
• hyphenated
• open
• closed