English Grammar

Compound Nouns

Nouns | Abstract Nouns | Collective Nouns | Common Nouns | Concrete Nouns Countable / Uncountable Nouns | Gerund Nouns | Predicate Nouns | Proper Nouns A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns in English are formed by nouns modified by other nouns or adjectives. For example: The words tooth and paste are each nouns in their own right, but if you join them together they form a new word - toothpaste. The word black is an adjective and board is a noun, but if you join them together they form a new word blackboard. In both these example the first word modifies or describes the second word, telling us what kind of object or person it is, or what its purpose is. And the second part identifies the object or person in question. Compound nouns can also be formed using the following combinations of words:Noun Adjective Verb Preposition Noun Noun Adjective Preposition + + + + + + + + Noun Noun Noun Noun Verb toothpaste monthly ticket swimming pool underground haircut

Preposition hanger on Verb Verb dry-cleaning output

The two parts may be written in a number of ways:1. Sometimes the two words are joined together. Example: tooth + paste = toothpaste | bed + room = bedroom 2. Sometimes they are joined using a hyphen. Example: check-in 3. Sometimes they appear as two separate words. Example: full moon

Often, the meaning of a compound word cannot be discovered by knowing the meaning of the different words that form it. Compounds can be written either as one word or as separate words (sometimes hyphenated).

A afterthought, airplane, another, anybody, anyhow, anyone, anything, anywhere, armchair B backbone, backspace, backwoods, become, bedroom, beeswax, birthday, birthright, blackberry, blackbird, blackboard, blackmail, bloodvessel, bluebell, bodyguard, bookkeeper, bolthole,brainstorm, breadbin, brushwood C cardboard, carefree, caretaker, carpet, chairman, clockwork, commonsense, copyright, cupboard D daylight, dead weight, downfall, downstairs E earring, earthwork, evergreen, everybody, everyday, everyone, everything, everywhere, eyeball F fatherland, fingerprint, firearm, fire-engine, firefly, fireman, fireplace, firework, first-rate, floppy disk, football, footlights, footman, footnote, footprint, footstep, friendship G gasworks, goalkeeper, goldfish, goodlooking, good-morning, goodnight, gunboat, gun-carriage, gunmetal, gunpowder H haircut, handbook, handwriting, headdress, headland, headphones, headstone, headway, hereafter, herewith, herself, highlands, highway, himself, horsback, horseplay, horsepower, hourglass, houseboat, housekeeper, however I inasmuch, income, indoors, inland, inlet, input, inside, instep, into, itself J joystick,

K keyboard L landmark, landslip, lawsuit, lighthouse, lipstick, loanshark, looking-glass, loophole M manhandle, manhole, meeting room, moonlight, myself N network, newspaper, nightcap, nobody, nothing, nowhere O offspring, oncoming, oneself, oneline, onlooker, onto, ourselves, outburst, outcome, outcry, outdoor, outgoing, outhouse, outlaw, outlet, outline, outlook, output, outside, outskirts, outstretched, overacting, overall overbalancing, overbearing, overcoat, overcome, overdo, overdressed, overfull, overhanging, overhead, overland, overleaf, overload, overlook, overseas, overseer, overshoe, overstatement, overtake, overtaxed, overtime, overturned, overuse, overvalued, overweight, overworking P pincushion, plaything , policeman, policewoman, postman, postwoman, postmark, postmaster, postoffice Q,R railway, receivership, runway, runaway S scarecrow, seaman, secondhand, shorthand, shutdown, sideboard, sidewalk, sinkhole, skyscraper, somebody, someday, somehow, someone, something, sometime, somewhat, somewhere, starlight, startup, steamship, suchlike, sunburn, sunlight, sunshade, sweetheart T themselves, timesheet, today, tonight, toothpaste, tradesman U underclothing, undercooked, undergo, undergrowth, undermined, undersigned, undersized, understatement, undertake, undertaker, undervalued, undo, update, upkeep, uplift, upon, upright, upstairs, uptake, uptight V viewpoint .

W wallpaper, waterfall, weekend, well-being, well-off, whatever, whenever, whereas, whereby, wherever, whichever, whitewash, whoever, windpipe, within, without, woodwork, workhouse , workman, workmanship, workout X x-ray Y yearbook, yourself Z zookeeper

Compound Nouns A compound noun is a noun that is made with two or more words. A compound noun is usually [noun + noun] or [adjective + noun], but there are other combinations (see below). It is important to understand and recognize compound nouns. Each compound noun acts as a single unit and can be modified by adjectives and other nouns. There are three forms for compound nouns: 1. open or spaced - space between words (tennis shoe) 2. hyphenated - hyphen between words (six-pack) 3. closed or solid - no space or hyphen between words (bedroom) Here are some examples of compound nouns: Noun + Noun bus stop fire-fly football adjective + Noun full moon blackboard software verb(-ing) + Noun breakfast washing machine Is this the bus stop for the number 12 bus? In the tropics you can see fire-flies at night. Shall we play football today? I always feel crazy at full moon. Clean the blackboard please. I can't install this software on my PC. We always eat breakfast at 8am. Put the clothes in the red washing machine.

swimming pool What a beautiful swimming pool! Noun + verb(-ing) sunrise haircut train-spotting verb Noun + preposition + prepositional phrase check-out mother-in-law I like to get up at sunrise. You need a haircut. His hobby is train-spotting. Please remember that check-out is at 12 noon. My mother-in-law lives with us.

preposition + Noun

underworld

Do you think the police accept money from theunderworld? We need 10 truckfuls of bricks.

Noun

+ adjective

truckful

Pronunciation Compound nouns tend to have more stress on the first word. In the phrase "pink ball", both words are equally stressed (as you know, adjectives and nouns are always stressed). In the compound noun "golf ball", the first word is stressed more (even though both words are nouns, and nouns are always stressed). Since "golf ball" is a compound noun we consider it as a single noun and so it has a single main stress - on the first word. Stress is important in compound nouns. For example, it helps us know if somebody said "a GREEN HOUSE" (a house which is painted green) or "a GREENhouse" (a building made of glass for growing plants inside). British/American differences Different varieties of English, and even different writers, may use the open, hyphenated or closed form for the same compound noun. It is partly a matter of style. There are no definite rules. For example we can find: container ship container-ship containership

If you are not sure which form to use, please check in a good dictionary.

Compound Word List #1

lifetime cannot together crosswalk moonlight anybody meantime sometimes butterflies fireflies something anyone Inside therefore without

elsewhere baseball become basketball football weatherman earthquake also upstream because another today themselves uplift backbone

upside fireworks became sweetmeat railroad throwback everything backward nowhere somewhere somewhat himself playthings supergiant scapegoat

Grandmother Passport Sunflower Superstructure rattlesnake skateboard herein schoolhouse bypass spearmint airport grasshopper footprints homemade peppermint

Compound Word List # 2

eyeballs southwest keyboard herself silversmith Itself underground honeymoon dishwasher popcorn bookcase bluefish thunderstorm hometown

longhouse northeast whatever nobody watchmaker headquarters glassmaking bootstrap household airplane babysitter hamburger spokesperson commonplace

forget alongside blacksmith seashore subway sandstone riverbanks toothpick township pickup saucepan honeydew widespread moreover

afternoon meanwhile diskdrive nearby horseback limestone touchdown toothpaste shadyside housekeeper lukewarm raincheck weekend pacemaker

Compound Word List # 3 supermarket somebody anymore backhand backstage underage bookworm superscript bookkeeper Forklift honeysuckle keyway lifeguard forefinger supermen someday anyplace watchdog waterfall underbelly bookstore supersonic bookmark format honeybee keyword lifelike forefather supernatural somehow anytime backlog backtrack underbid bookshelf superstar bookmobile fortnight keyhole lifeblood lifeline forehand superpower someone anyway backpack noisemaker undercharge bookend supersensitive forgive honeycomb keynote lifeboat lifelong forehead

Compound Word List # 4 onetime backside undercut superstrong underexpose airfield anywhere backbreaker textbook keypad upstairs supercool foreleg supercargo backslap underdevelop supertanker underfoot sidekick anyhow backdrop underachieve keypunch softball superego foreman supercharge backspace underdog superweapon however crossover backache backfire underact keystone uptight superfine foresee overabundance backspin underestimate superwoman eyesight sunbathe backbite background underarm keystroke upstate superhero oneself

Compound Word List # 5

washroom Upend whitewall daytime repairman blackjack Uphill firehouse ballroom upward deadline daybreak update

blackbird blacktop whitewash upbringing firefighter blacklist waterline teenager brainchild upwind rainbow daybook upgrade

blackboard whitecap friendship upbeat standby blackmail upkeep carpool pinstripe upturn watermelon daydream upheaval

blackberries whitefish pancake upcoming bedroom blackout upland bellbottom bodywork storerooms waterway daylight upheld

Compound Word List # 6

upload lifesaver carhop wastepaper newspaper fishpond taxicab uppercut newsreel grandfather upright grandnieces boldface dishpan

washstand forearm carload upshot grandchild fishtail taxpayer uppercase newsstand grandmaster uproar grandson bankbook dishwater

upon forbearer carport uplink grandparent hookup teacup uppermost newsworthy grandaunt uproot grandstand bankroll cardboard

upperclassman forbid carpetbagger upstage grandchildren eyecatching teamwork uprising granddaughter grandnephew upstart granduncle dishcloth carefree

Compound Word List # 7

caretaker uptake carryall washcloth newsdealer intake underclothes

carsick upthrust cartwheel fishlike watershed courtyard overcoat

carfare newsroom wheelbase waterproof newsman overflow undercover

cargo uptime wheelbarrow fishnet snowdrift cornmeal undercurrent

takeover superhuman afterlife mainland firebomb airtime allover buttermilk

talebearer wasteland setback caveman someplace firecracker notebook footnote

taleteller superman overland drawbridge passbook sidewalk throwaway moonbeam

tapeworm superhighways highway lifework passkey fireball fireproof Sunday

Compound Word List # 8

handmade crossbow moonstruck schoolboy playback horseplay weekday slowdown forecast slumlord firebreak earthward playboy rainstorm headlight

candlelight sideshow rattletrap sweetheart foothill headache hammerhead skyscraper highball snowball aircraft buttercup footlocker bluegrass bedrock

firearm software weatherproof butternut eyelid blueprint foreclose motherhood forebear snakeskin crosscut allspice handgun cheeseburger standoff

airline sunfish earthworm hereafter southeast raindrop foreclosure fatherland mainline soundproof railway noteworthy horsepower weeknight commonwealth

Compound Word List # 9

cancan

fireboat

airlift

Passover

crossbreed

sideburns

sunbaked

moonshine

schoolbook

hereby

playhouse

butterfingers

footlights

handbook

backslide

eyelash

steamship

headline

spillway

houseboat

longhand

horsehair

standpipe

whatsoever

foresight

soybean

bookseller

blueberry

cheesecake

raincoat

thunderbolt

standpoint

bedroll

cardsharp

bellboy

brainwash

bodyguard

pinhole

ponytail

newsboy

careworn

duckpin

duckbill

hookworm

courthouse

afterimage

highchair

mothball

sixfold

skintight

skylight

slapstick

snowbank

standout

handout

eyeglasses

footrest

stepson

stockroom

stonewall

Compound Word List # 10

sailboat

watchword

timesaving

timeshare

salesclerk

showoff

sharecropper

sheepskin

candlestick

newsbreak

newscaster

newsprint

butterscotch

turnabout

turnaround

turnbuckle

eyewitness

starfish

stagehand

spacewalk

shoemaker

turndown

turnkey

turnoff

horsefly

comedown

comeback

cabdriver

bluebird

tablespoon

tabletop

tableware

stoplight

sunlit

sandlot

snowbird

bluebell

wheelhouse

fishhook

fishbowl

stronghold

tailgate

taillight

taillike

Pinup

tailspin

takeoff

takeout

bellhop

taproot

target

taskmaster

steamboat

dairymaid

teaspoon

daisywheel

pinwheel

telltale

tenderfoot

tenfold

Compound Word List # 11

timekeeper

watchword

timesaving

timeshare

shoelace

showoff

sharecropper

sheepskin

newfound

newsbreak

newscaster

newsprint

timetable

turnabout

turnaround

turnbuckle

sharpshooter

starfish

stagehand

spacewalk

turncoat

turndown

turnkey

turnoff

aboveboard

comedown

comeback

cabdriver

tablecloth

tablespoon

tabletop

tableware

sundial

sunlit

sandlot

snowbird

wheelchair

wheelhouse

fishhook

fishbowl

tagalong

tailgate

taillight

taillike

tailpiece

tailspin

takeoff

takeout

taproom

taproot

target

taskmaster

teammate

dairymaid

teaspoon

daisywheel

showplace

telltale

tenderfoot

tenfold

Compound Word List # 12

shortbread

teapot

timesaving

timeshare

firewater

airmen

sharecropper

sheepskin

moonscape

schoolwork

newscaster

newsprint

hereupon

weathercock

turnaround

turnbuckle

handcuff

headdress

stagehand

spacewalk

housetop

forever

turnkey

turnoff

tailcoat

bedclothes

comeback

cabdriver

upstanding

fisheye

tabletop

tableware

afterglow

highland

sandlot

snowbird

sisterhood

skylark

fishhook

fishbowl

waistline

walkways

taillight

taillike

walleyed

wallpaper

takeoff

takeout

wardroom

warehouse

target

taskmaster

warlike

warmblooded

teaspoon

daisywheel

warpath

telltale

tenderfoot

tenfold

Compound Word List # 13

around

washbowl

fisherman

schoolbus

ashtray

washboard

beachcomb

washout

blackball

upmarket

washtub

wastebasket

sunroof

sundown

snowshovel

sunup

upset

wastewater

superimpose

watchband

jailbait

jetliner

dogwood

downbeat

atchcase

backlash

watchman

below

jetport

boardwalk

jackpot

ballpark

watchtower

timepieces

watercolor

watercooler

gumball

goodbye

nevermore

coffeemaker

watercraft

backstroke

waterfront

waterlog

moonwalk

woodshop

jellyfish

waterfowl

uphold

watermark

fishmonger

waterpower

shipbottom

goodnight

nutcracker

racquetball

waterscape

newsletter

waterside

waterspout

Compound Word List # 14

scarecrow

toolbox

gearshift

tailbone

watertight

waterworks

waterwheel

wavelength

thunderbird

bugspray

overshoes

paycheck

wavelike

warfare

waxwork

waybill

bowtie

crewcut

typewriter

jumpshot

wayfarer

waylaid

wayward

wayside

deadend

eardrum

postcard

fruitcup

overboard

jellybean

centercut

rubberband

sunray

clockwise

downunder

earache

turntable

driveway

matchbox

motorcycle

nightfall

graveyard

carrack

doorstop

tadpole

eggshell

stopwatch

limelight

ironwork

cattail

nursemaid

sunglasses

wipeout

egghead

eardrop

earthbound

daybed

earring

housework

haircut

Compound Word List New

blowgun

forethought

upscale

duckweed

forewarn

upstroke

bowlegs

foreknowledge

uptown

forebrain

foregone

washhouse

forefeet

foreshadow

washrag

forefoot

foretold

forego

foreword

foreground

grassland

butterball

horseman

forecastle

horseradish

foremost

moonlit

forepaws

catwalk

cardstock

newborn

foredoom

newsperson

forestall

rainwater

Vocabulario: Sustantivos Compuestos 1 Como escrib hace un par de das en el articulo de sustantivos y adjetivos compuestos, hay varias maneras de hacer las palabras compuestas. Hoy quiero dar ms ejemplos. sustantivo + sustantivo bodyguard guardaespaldas goalkeeper portero (en el futbol) doorman portero de un edificio backbone espina dorsal (se usa tambin para decir coraje) cupboard estantera (literalmente una tabla donde poner las copas) fireman bombero headphones auriculares housekeeper una persona que viene a limpiarte la casa keyboard el teclado conference room la sala de reuniones waterfall una cascada living room la sala de estar bedroom el dormitorio sidewalk la acera sunburn quemadura del sol wallpaper papel pintado (para cubrir las paredes) policeman un polica wineglass un vaso para el vino (para decir un vaso de vino, usamos a glass of wine) goldfish un pez de colores Aqu tenemos algunos de otro tipo: sustantivo + preposicin (o preposicin + sustantivo) underwear la ropa interior overtime horas extras que se trabaja overhead los gastos generales de una empresa output rendimiento offspring los cros shakeup una situacin catica upkeep mantenimiento