Compound Noun
Compound nouns are made up by joining nouns with other words as group words for specifying a single thing or person. For making compound nouns, nouns can be modified, with another noun, adjective, adverb, verb etc. based on the conditions.
There is a long list of compound nouns to learn in English language for students. We have tried to give all compound nouns for better understanding of students. They will get an overall knowledge about using compound nouns correctly after viewing the examples with conditions. It will be easier for them to memorise compound nouns along with accurate examples.
In case of making compound nouns, we have to start with the last nouns for working out or expanding it.
Expansion of compound noun are based on the specific rule of making it. We have provided the rules with numerous examples for having depth knowledge of compound noun.
Compound nouns are used with a hyphen, without hyphen and with space but no hyphen for different words. There are no definite rules for using hyphen and space in the middle of compound nouns.
Compound nouns can also be divided in countable and uncountable forms.
Formation of compound nouns:
i) Three word compounds nouns:
Machine made clothes- clothes made by machine.
Town hall clock- the clock of the town hall.
Gram panchayat Pradhan- the Pradhan of the gram panchayat.
Birth day party- a party to celebrate someone’s birthday.
ii) Compounds with noun+ noun:
Ceiling fan- a fan hanging from ceiling.
Gods train- a train using to carry goods.
Iron gate- gate made of iron.
Science lab- a lab used for scientific experiments.
Short trip- a trip for a short period of time.
Letter box- a box using for keeping letters.
Tea garden- a garden made of tea plants.
Tooth paste- paste use for brushing teeth.
Life time- the time period denoting throughout whole life.
Flower vase- a vase to keep flowers.
Garments industry- an industry for making garments.
Guest house- a house use for keeping guests.
Wind mill- a mill driven by wind.
Thermal power- power generating from thermal plant.
Water tank- tank use for keeping water.
Cooking gas- gas used for cooking.
iii) Compound nouns with adjective+ noun:
Dark room- a room to make photo plates.
High school- school to teach higher education.
Postal service- the service given by postal department.
Green tea- tea made from green leaves.
Cloudy sky- sky full of clouds.
Frosty road- a road covered with frost.
Metal gate- a gate made of metal.
iv) Compound nouns with verb+ noun:
Pick pocket- picking one’s pocket.
Watchdog- a dog kept for watching.
Breakfast- eating food to break fast.
Passport- a pass used for going to other countries.
Touchstone- a stone to bring change in one’s touch.
v) Compound nouns with ing/ed verb+ noun:
Dining room- a specific room to dine.
Washing machine- a machine used for washing clothes.
Running train- a train which is in running state.
Sitting room- a room which is used to sit.
Walking stick- a stick used to walk with.
vi) Compound nouns with noun+ verb:
Bus stop- a particular place where bus stops.
Rainfall- the falling of rain.
Sunset- setting of the sun.
Necktie- the tie used to wear around neck.
Noun+ verb ing/ed:
Fault finding- finding faults.
Story telling- telling of stories.
Fortune telling- telling of fortune.
Oil painting- painting by using oil.
vii) Compound nouns with preposition + verb and verb+ preposition:
Outlook, uplift, lay-out, turn-over, over-flow, outlet, up start, fall-out, blow-up etc.
FAQs:
- How can we identify compound noun?
Answer. When students will find out a group of words functions as a single noun in a sentence then it is compound noun.
- How can students learn using compound nouns correctly?
Answer. Students should follow the definite rules of making compound noun along with its numerous examples. Then they will be able to identify compound nouns and use it correctly in speaking or writing.