Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- identify compound nouns.
- distinguish among the three types of compound nouns
- write compound nouns correctly
- say and write the plural forms of given compound nouns
What is a compound noun?
A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words. For example, the words ‘football’, head teacher’, ‘Director-General, and ‘father-in-law’ are compound nouns. Football is a compound noun because it consists of two parts ‘foot’ and ‘ball’. Head teacher is a compound noun because it consists of two parts ‘head’ and ‘teacher’. Now, tell me: what are the two parts contained in the compound noun director-general?
Remember, that I said that a compound noun is made up of two or more words. This means that a compound noun may consist of three parts as we have it in the word father- in-law. Thus the compound noun father-in-law is made up of three parts. These are father, in, and law. So, there are different types of compound nouns.
Types of compound nouns
There are three main types of compound nouns. First of all, there are those that are written together as a single word. Examples of compound nouns that are written together as a single word include headmaster, haircut, and bedroom. These compound nouns are called single word compound nouns. Secondly, some compound nouns are separated in writing. Examples of compound nouns that are written as separate words include head teacher, high school, and Cape Coast. These compound nouns are called separated words compound nouns. Finally, some compound nouns are written as hyphenated words. Examples of compound nouns that are hyphenated include director-general, mother-in- law, and officer-in-charge. These compound nouns are called hyphenated compound nouns. The section below focuses on single word compound nouns.
1. Single word compound nouns
Single word compound nouns are written together as single words; they are neither separated nor hyphenated. So we say, single word compound nouns are expressed as a single word.
In writing the compound noun headmaster, the two parts head and master are written together as a single word: headmaster. In the same vein, in writing the compound noun haircut, the two parts hair and cut are written together as a single word: haircut. The compound noun bedroom is also written as a single word. Other examples of compound nouns that are written together as a single word are listed below. Write them in your exercise book.
| schoolgirl breakfast | schoolboy clubhouse | houseboy football | tablecloth laptop |
| notebook | textbook | workbook | footwear |
| blackboard | noticeboard | billboard | dashboard |
| cupboard hotplate | armchair scratchpad | wingchair software | wheelchair hardware |
| policeman aircraft | spokesperson sweetheart | bookshelf girlfriend | mouthpiece boyfriend |
The compound nouns in the sentences below have been underlined. Observe how the compound nouns have been used in the sentences below.
1. Is break fast ready?
2. We need new textbooks for English.
3. Mansa is still sleeping in her bedroom.
4. Are you going to have a new haircut today?
5. Where do you want us to have our break fast?
6. We agreed to have our meeting at the clubhouse.
7. When I went there, the boys were playing football.
8. Our new headmaster is really assertive and dynamic.
9. Mr Adams took to his heels when he saw the policeman.
10. The results have been published on the school noticeboard.
Compound nouns that are written as a single word are often referred to as closed or solid compound nouns. The section below focuses on separate words compound nouns.
2. Separate words compound nouns
The second category of compound nouns are those that are written as separate words They are neither hyphenated nor written together as a single word. Examples of compound nouns that are written as separate words include head teacher, high school, and Cape Coast.
In writing the compound noun head teacher, the two parts head and teacher are separated: head teacher. In the same vein, in writing the compound noun high school, the two parts high and school are separated: high school. The compound noun Cape Coast is also separated in writing. Other examples of compound nouns that are written as separate words have been listed below. Write them in your exercise book.
| first lady pen drive | office girl flash disk | air conditioner fluorescent tube |
| ground floor house girl | first floor high street | swimming pool storey building |
| dining hall | water tank | washing machine |
| school prefect | bus stop | driving licence |
The compound nouns in the sentences below have been underlined. Observe how the compound nouns have been used in the sentences below.
1. The water tank is empty.
2. The pastor lives on the first floor.
3. We admire our head teacher so much.
4. Do you have a swimming pool at home?
5. Adams was punished by the school prefect.
6. I had my high school education at Begoro
7. There is a public university in Cape Coast.
8. Do you want me to wait for you at the bus stop?
9. Our head teacher attended high school in Cape Coast..
10. The visitor waited on the ground floor for thirty minutes.
3. Hyphenated compound nouns
As you have been hinted earlier, some compound nouns are hyphenated. Hyphenated compound nouns are not separated in writing, neither are they written together as a single word. They are hyphenated. This means that the two or three parts forming the compound are brought together by the use of a hyphen. A hyphen is one of the punctuation marks used in English. You will learn the uses of the hyphen in another lesson. Examples of hyphenated compound nouns are dining-table, director-general, and officer-in-charge.
In writing the compound noun dining-table, the two parts dining and table are joined together by the use of a hyphen: dining-table. In the same vein, in writing the compound noun director-general, the two parts director and general are joined together by the use of a hyphen: director-general. The compound noun officer-in- charge is written with two hyphens because the compound is made up of three parts. Other examples of hyphenated compound nouns have been listed below. Write them in your exercise book.
director-general dining-table son-in-law
| attorney-general | hunger-on | father-in-law |
| governor-general inspector-general | refresher-course daughter-in-law | mother-in-law sister–in–law |
| commander-in-chief | officer-in-charge | brother-in-law |
The compound nouns in the sentences below have been underlined. Observe how the compound nouns have been used in the sentences below.
- The young man was just a passer-by.
- Mrs Grace Annan is my mother-in-law.
- There is a twelve-year-old boy in my class.
- Can I see the officer-in-charge of this unit?
- This dining-table is too small for my family.
- His sister-in-law wants works in the States.
- Do you know the inspector-general of police?
- The responsibilities of the attorney-general are enormous.
- The governor-general ordered the release of all the prisoners.
- The new director-general has outlined strategies for stepping-up performance.
The correct spelling of the compound words listed below have been underlined. Observe them carefully.
| 1. | A headmaster | B head-master | C head master |
| 2. | drumstick | drum-stick | drum stick |
| 3. | firefly | fire-fly | fire fly |
| 4. | commanderinchief | commander-in-c hie f | commander in chief |
| 5. | headteacher | head-teacher | head teacher |
| 6. | shellfish | shell-fish | shell fish |
| 7. | swimmingpool | swimming-pool | swimming pool |
| 8. | busstop | bus-stop | bus stop |
| 9. | seaweed | sea-weed | sea weed |
| 10. | tenyearold | ten-year-old | ten year old |
Plural of compound nouns
There are two main ways by which the plural of compound nouns may be formed. Firstly, the last word in the compound is changed to its plural form. For example, the plural of bottleneck is bottlenecks. The last word in the compound is changed to its plural. Secondly, the more important or the most important word of the compound is changed to its plural form. For example, the plural form of water tank is water tanks. Let us look at how compound nouns form the plural in some detail.
1. The plural form of one-word compound nouns
The plurals of compound nouns that are written as one word are formed by changing the last word in the compound to its correct plural form. For example:
Singular plural
bottleneck – bottlenecks
grandchild – grandchildren
sidewalk – sidewalks
hotplate – hotplates
cupful – cupfuls
cowboy – cowboys
2. The plural form of separate words compound nouns
The plural form of compound nouns that are written as separate words are formed by changing the more important or the most important word of the compound to its plural form. For example:
Singular plural
head of school – heads of school
head of state – heads of state
head teacher – head teachers
high school – high schools
swimming pool – swimming pools
head of department – heads of department
rule of thumb – rules of thumb
3. The plural form of hyphenated compound nouns
The plurals of compound nouns that are hyphenated are formed by changing the most important word of the compound noun to its correct plural form. For example:
Singular Plural
father-in-law – fathers-in-law
mother-in-law – mothers-in-law
brother-in-law – brothers-in-law
sister-in-law – sisters-in-law
step-son – step-sons
inspector-general – inspectors-general
attorney-general – attorneys-general
director-general – directors-general
governor-general – governors-general
Summary
- A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words.
- There are three main types of compound nouns: those that are written together as a single word; those that are separated in writing; and those that are hyphenated.
- The plurals of compound nouns that are written as one word are formed by changing the last word in the compound to its correct plural form.
- The plurals of compound nouns that are written as separate words or hyphenated are formed by changing the most important word of the compound to its plural form.
CONTENT CONSULTANTS
Author
John Tetteh Agor, Ph.D.
Peer Reviewers
Modestus Fosu, Ph.D.
Prosper Kwesi Agordjor, M.Phil.
William Foli Garr, (Rev.) M.Phil.