Compound nouns
A compound noun is a noun that consists of two or more different words. Most compound nouns are formed by combining two nouns or an adjective and a noun. Toothpaste (noun+noun) is an example of a compound that combines two nouns. Greenhouse (adjective+noun) is a combination of an adjective and a noun.
Compound nouns can also be formed in the following ways
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Noun
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+
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Noun
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bodyguard
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travel agent
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chat-room
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Adjective
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+
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Noun
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greenhouse
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full moon
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highway
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Preposition
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+
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Noun
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underground
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input
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bycatch
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Verb
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+
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Noun
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driving license
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answering machine
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breakfast
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Noun
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+
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Preposition
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hanger on
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love-in
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Noun
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+
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Verb
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haircut
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rainfall
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Verb
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+
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Preposition
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check-in
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build-up
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Adjective
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+
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Verb
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dry cleaning
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Compound nouns are written as a single word or separate words. Hypens are also used in some compound nouns.
- closed or solid compound nouns (one word): snowman, sunflower, bathroom, etc.
- open or spaced compound nouns (two separate words): car park, washing machine, etc.
- hyphenated compound nouns (joined by a hyphen): mather-in-law, fire-fly, check-out, etc.
Plurals of compound nouns
Closed compound nouns form their plurals by adding -s/-es to the end.
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Singular
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Plural
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whiteboard
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whiteboards
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toothbrush
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toothbrushes
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haircut
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haircuts
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Compound nouns written with hyphens or spaces pluralize the base word.
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Singular
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Plural
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attorney-general
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attorneys-general
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father-in-law
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fathers-in-law
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heir apparent
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heirs apparent
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man-of-war
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men-of-war
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sergeant major
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sergeants major
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step-parent
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step-parents
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washing machine
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washing machines
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