Compound Nouns: Meaning, Types, Rules, and Examples

Compound Nouns: Compound nouns are an essential part of English grammar. They are formed by combining two or more words to create a new noun with a specific meaning. These words can come from various parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or even prepositions. Understanding compound nouns is crucial for mastering English language use, as they are commonly used in both spoken and written communication.

What is a Compound Noun ?

• T oothbrush : A tool used for cleaning teeth. The words tooth and brush come together to create a single object.
• Notebook : A book used for writing notes. It combines note (what you write) and book (where you write it) to mean a single item.
• Sunflower : A type of flower that resembles the sun. The words sun and flower merge to describe a specific flower.
• Post office : A place where mail is collected and distributed. Post (relating to mail) and office (a workplace) come together to refer to the specific building.
• Mother-in-law : The mother of one’s spouse. It combines mother and in-law to define a family relationship.

Types of Compound Nouns

1. Closed or Solid Compound Nouns

• Notebook (a book for writing notes)
• Toothpaste (a paste used for cleaning teeth)
• Keyboard (an input device used for typing)
• Haircut (a style or process of cutting hair)
• Footprint (the impression left by a foot)

2. Spaced or Open Compound Nouns

• Coffee table (a low table usually placed in front of a sofa)
• Swimming pool (a pool designed for swimming)
• Police station (a building where police work)
• Ice cream (a frozen dairy dessert)
• Parking lot (a place designated for parking vehicles)

3. Hyphenated Compound Nouns

• Mother-in-law (the mother of one’s spouse)
• Editor-in-chief (the head editor of a publication)
• Six-pack (a set of six items, commonly referring to packaged drinks)
• Passer-by (a person who happens to be going past)
• Self-esteem (confidence in one’s worth or abilities)

Compound Noun Rules

1. When the Compound Noun Is Singular or a Single Word

• Underline becomes underlines ("The document has several underlines.")
• Hotspot becomes hotspots ("The city has many Wi-Fi hotspots.")
• Notebook becomes notebooks ("She purchased three notebooks for school.")

2. When the Compound Noun Is Hyphenated or Separated

• Mother-in-law becomes mothers-in-law ("They invited their mothers-in-law to the event.")
• Editor-in-chief becomes editors-in-chief ("The company appointed two new editors-in-chief.")
• Passer-by becomes passers-by ("Many passers-by watched the street performance.")
• Attorney general becomes attorneys general ("The conference included several attorneys general.")

3. When Both Parts of the Compound Need to Be Pluralized

• Manservant becomes menservants ("The estate had several menservants.")
• Woman doctor becomes women doctors ("The panel featured several women doctors.")

Forming Compound Nouns with Different Parts of Speech

Noun + Noun

Noun + Verb

Noun + Preposition

Preposition + Verb

Verb + Preposition

Preposition + Noun

Adjective + Noun

Difference Between Compound and Collective Noun

Here is a comparison between Compound Nouns and Collective Nouns based on their definitions, structure, meaning, and usage. The following table highlights the key differences:

Compound Nouns Practice Questions

1. Identify the compound noun in the following sentence : "The football match was exciting and full of energy."
2. Choose the correct plural form : What is the correct plural form of "mother-in-law"?

5. Match the following pairs to create compound nouns:

Answers:

1. Football