In this English lesson we examine, Compound Nouns in English
A Compound noun can be
1/ joined
a tooth + brush = toothbrush
housekeeper
a showcase
a bookmark
a football
2/ separated
post + office = the post office
Dialogue
1/English Sentence Practice
John has arrived home and he is now in the living room contemplating where to go on holiday.
It has just occurred to him how funny the English language is sometimes.
His realisation has been sparked by him brushing up on his French grammar.
In particular how a noun is often used as an adjective.
He has been looking out the living room window. The first noun does not have a plural, this is called a compound noun.
Where’s the window? It is in the living room:
What is the screen on the wall? It is is part of the television hence the television screen?
What does a coffee pot contain? It is a pot to put coffee in.
What type of belt do I wear? I wear a trouser belt to keep my trousers up.
What is a bottle opener for.I am thirsty and I would like a glass of sparkling water. How do I open the bottle?
His wife Susan enters and says “A penny for your thoughts dear”.
I was studying French and it occurred to me that compound nouns in English are always in the singular.
Not always dear. This is English. For every rule in English, there are exceptions.
If a word is always in the plural then it will be in the compound noun, Clothespeg. It’s not clothpeg,
Don’t forget that short nouns are stuck together; teapot, some are separated with hyphens bus-stop.
Some are just written side by side. I will get you a bottle opener for your sparkling water.
We use the s as an apostrophe if one thing belongs to another. John’s chair and Susan’s cup.
Let’s discuss John’s holiday.
English Vocabulary Practise
2/Vocabulary Practice
- Compound nouns
to contemplate- It has just occurred to him
- how funny
- sometimes.
- the realisation
- sparked off by
- to brush up
- French grammar
- In particular
- how a noun is often used as an adjective
- looking out the
- window.
- The first noun does not have a plural this is called a compound noun.
- the living room:
- hence
- the television screen?
- coffee pot
- to contain
- What type of ?
- trouser belt
- to keep up.
- bottle opener
- sparkling water.
- “A penny for your thoughts dear”
- it occurred to me
- Not always
- for every rule, there is an exception.
- Cloathespeg.
- to stick together
- teapot
- hyphen
- bus-stop.
- side by side.
- an apostrophe
- to belong to another
- John’s chair
- Susan’s cup.
- Let’s discuss
- John’s holiday.
English Grammar
Compound Nouns in English
A Compound noun can be
1/ joined
a tooth + brush = toothbrush
housekeeper
a showcase
a bookmark
a football
2/ separated
post + office = the post office
ice cream
music box
dining room
3/ hyphenated
water + bottle = water-bottle
mother-in-law
runner-up
great-grandmother
Some nouns can consist of more than one word. These are called compound nouns. Compound nouns can be formed in a variety of ways.
Do remember that a gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. It is a noun, i.e. swimming is fun!
1/ noun + noun (The most common way is to put two nouns together)
football
eggplant
armchair
fireman
bathroom
seafood
skydiving
airport
swimmingpool
washing machine
driving licence
rocking chair
2/ adjective + noun
software
redwood
drycleaning
greenhouse
blackbird
whiteboard
3/ adverb or preposition (prefix)+ noun
upstairs
downstairs
underground
4/ noun + verb
rainfall
haircut
5/ verb + adverb or particle
drawback
giveaway
checkout
6/ preposition + verb
output
underwear
outsource
income
bypass
7/ three word compounds
washing-up liquid
father-in-law
bird of prey
English Speaking Practise
Questions and Answers
Is that coffee pot new?
No, I got it a year ago?
How big is that television screen?
55 or 60, I’m not sure.
Do you need a trouser belt?
Yes, can you pass me one?
Was that John waiting at the bus-stop?
Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.
Where are you?
I am in the bedroom.
Would you like a glass of something?
Yes I would, I will get the bottle opener.
Can I have that cup?
No, it is Sara’s cup.
Who does this chair belong to?
It’s John’s chair.
Did it ever occur to you that I might be tired?
It did occur to me, so we are going home.
Is there anything you would like to do in particular?
No, I’m happy just looking out the window.
Pronunciation
YY
Let’s discover some consonant sounds together sh, this is voiceless so expulse air. Your mouth is slightly rounded, your tongue is upwards towards your palate, sh, ocean, fish, international,machine, shallow, Russia, ashes.let’s repeat sh, ocean, fish, international,machine, shallow, Russia, ashes.
Now test time, how would you pronounce these words?
The answer is; sugar, fashion, delicious.That’s it for today see you soon.
Exercises Lesson 55
Comprehension Practice
Vocabulary Practice
Grammar Practice
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