![]() ![]() For example, the plural of attorney general is attorneys general. However, things can get more complicated. Sometimes, these words stick to the rules, and all you need to do is make the last word plural as in wedding planners or soft drinks. This type of compound noun gets more complicated. For example, chalkboard becomes chalkboards and eyelash becomes eyelashes. You can take a look at our article on plural nouns if you need a refresher, but the usual method is to add -s or -es to the end of the compound noun. ![]() Of the three, this type of compound noun is the most likely to follow the rules of plural nouns. ![]() However, there are different rules about how to make compound nouns into plural nouns depending on which of the three types you are dealing with. Until now, we have only looked at singular nouns. know-it-all, mother-in-law, show-off, court-martial, jack-in-the-box, jack-of-all-trades, Johnny-come-lately, city-state, hocus-pocus, merry-go-round.If a compound noun is formed from more than two words, it will almost always use hyphens. Using hyphens to form compound nouns is particularly common in newer or rarely used words. This type of compound noun is often confused with the other two types. Adjective + noun: quick fix, easy money, slow burn, double agent, close call.Verb + noun: flash flood, grab bag, jump cut, slam dunk, shock jock.Noun + noun: house party, grandfather clock, sweater vest, Christmas tree.For example, the compound noun hot dog refers to a food while the separate words “hot dog” refers to a hairy animal that is very warm (and a good boy). You need to be careful with this type of compound noun as they may look identical to an instance of two separate words that aren’t being used as a compound noun. This type of compound noun is different from a noun phrase because one word isn’t acting as a modifier of another. This type of compound noun is formed by using two separate words together that are acting together, grammatically, as a single unit. Verb + preposition: breakdown, offshoot, downturn, input, uproar.Preposition + noun: downtown, bystander, underworld, overtime.Adjective + noun: smartphone, bluebird, redhead, greenhouse.Verb + noun: jailbreak, haircut, runtime, turntable, sweatshirt, buzzkill.Noun + noun: lunchtime, boyfriend, milkman, firefighter, hatrack, heartache.Here are examples of compound nouns formed from pairs of different types of words: This type of compound noun is formed by combining two words (from different parts of speech) together into a single word. You will either need to memorize compound nouns as you come across them or use our fantastic dictionary to see which form (or forms) should be used. As is often the case in English, there is no single rule that states which of these methods is correct when it comes to forming specific compound nouns. In English, there are three main ways that we form compound nouns. How many nouns does it take to be a noun expert? Make sure you count countable nouns in! Learn more about countable nouns here. For example, a blackboard is an object that a teacher writes on with chalk while a “black board” is any black piece of wood. One main thing to keep in mind about compound nouns is that they have a meaning that is distinct from their component parts. You can see this in words like runoff, takedown, and shortcake. Compound nouns aren’t just formed from nouns but other types of words as well, such as verbs, adjectives, and prepositions. The word snowstorm is an example of a simple type of compound noun formed from the words snow and storm. Adjectives, verbs, prepositions, and nouns can all be described as compounds.Īs compounds, they are made of two or more existing words combined into one, such as housetop (noun), many-sided (adjective), playact (verb), or upon (preposition).Ī compound noun, in simplified terms, is a noun made up of two or more existing words. In grammar, a compound refers to a word that is made up of two or more existing parts or elements. We use many different types of nouns to refer to people we love, places we take them, and things we enjoy together, but my story uses a couple examples of one particular type of noun: the compound noun. It was a fun night, but it was also an example of an event that can be described with nouns. Last night, I took my roommate to a drive-in to see the latest blockbuster. ![]()
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