Compound words are an essential part of English vocabulary. They are formed by combining two or more words to create a new word with a different meaning. Understanding compound words will help you improve your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing skills.
In this article, we will explore the types of compound words, how they are formed, and provide examples to help you use them correctly in everyday English.
What Are Compound Words?
A compound word is a word made by joining two or more words together to create a new meaning.
Examples:
- Sun + flower = Sunflower
- Tooth + brush = Toothbrush
- Note + book = Notebook
Compound words help express ideas more clearly and make sentences shorter and easier to understand.
Types of Compound Words
There are three main types of compound words in English:
1. Closed Compound Words
These words are written as one single word without spaces.
Examples:
- Bedroom
- Notebook
- Toothpaste
- Football
- Butterfly
2. Open Compound Words
These words are written as two or more separate words, but they function as a single idea.
Examples:
- Ice cream
- Post office
- Full moon
- High school
- Coffee table
3. Hyphenated Compound Words
These words use a hyphen (-) between the words to connect them.
Examples:
- Mother-in-law
- Check-in
- Well-being
- Twenty-one
- Editor-in-chief
Common Compound Words List
Here is a list of commonly used compound words in English:
| Closed Compound Words | Open Compound Words | Hyphenated Compound Words |
|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | Ice cream | Mother-in-law |
| Notebook | Post office | Check-in |
| Football | High school | Well-being |
| Toothpaste | Coffee table | Editor-in-chief |
| Butterfly | Living room | Long-term |
| Airport | Bus stop | Merry-go-round |
| Rainbow | Real estate | Self-confidence |
| Bedroom | Peanut butter | Up-to-date |
| Firefly | Parking lot | State-of-the-art |
| Newspaper | Full moon | First-class |
How to Form Compound Words
Compound words are formed by combining different parts of speech:
- Noun + Noun → Bedroom, toothpaste, football
- Adjective + Noun → Blackboard, greenhouse, full moon
- Verb + Noun → Swimming pool, washing machine, check-in
- Verb + Adverb → Take-off, runaway, breakdown
- Adjective + Adjective → Bittersweet, red-hot, icy-cold
Each combination creates a new word with a meaning that is different from the original words.
Quiz: Compound Words in English Grammar
1. Which of the following is a closed compound word?
a) Living room
b) Bedroom
c) Mother-in-law
2. Which compound word is written correctly?
a) Check-in
b) Check in
c) Checkin
3. Which of the following is an open compound word?
a) Basketball
b) Coffee table
c) Firefly
4. Which sentence uses the correct form of a compound word?
a) She bought a newspaper at the postoffice.
b) She bought a newspaper at the post office.
c) She bought a newspaper at the post-office.
5. Which of these is a hyphenated compound word?
a) Firefly
b) Full moon
c) Mother-in-law
6. Which of these compound words is incorrect?
a) Ice-cream
b) Ice cream
c) Icecream
7. Which compound word is formed by a verb + noun?
a) Washing machine
b) Rainbow
c) Newspaper
8. Which of the following is a compound noun?
a) Basketball
b) Take off
c) First-class
9. Which of these should be written as one word?
a) Air port
b) Airport
c) Air-port
10. Which of these is a common mistake when writing compound words?
a) Using hyphens in closed compound words
b) Using spaces in open compound words
c) Using compound words in sentences
Quiz Answers
1) Bedroom
2) Check-in
3) Coffee table
4) She bought a newspaper at the post office.
5) Mother-in-law
6) Ice-cream
7) Washing machine
8) Basketball
9) Airport
10) Using hyphens in closed compound words
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