2. Compound Words
Compound words are formed
when two or more words are put
together to form a new word
with a new meaning. Compounds
are written sometimes as one
word (sunglasses), sometimes as
two hyphenated words (life-
3. Compound words fall within
three categories and it’s not
unusual to find the same word
in more than one group. Here
are the three types of
compound words with an
explanation and examples of
4. 1. Closed compound words are formed when two unique words
are joined together. They don’t have a space between them and
they are the type that generally comes to mind when we think of
compound words. For example:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cannot
Baseball
Fireworks
Grandmother
Elsewhere
Upside
Together
Sunflower
Crosswalk
Become
Basketball
Moonlight
Football
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Railroad
Anybody
Weatherman
Skateboard
Earthquake
Everything
Sometimes
Schoolhouse
Upstream
5. • I love the fireworks on the
fourth of July.
• Make sure you hold hands when
you come to the crosswalk.
• The ocean was bathed in
moonlight.
• Did you hear amount the
terrible earthquake?
• The fireflies buzzed in the
night sky.
6. 2. Open compound words : have a space between
the words but when they are read together a
•
Ice cream
•
new meaning is formed:
•
Full moon
Grand jury
•
Attorney general
•
Cave in
•
Half sister
•
Post office
•
•
Real estate
•
Middle class
Examples :
•Ice cream is my favorite dessert.
•The line at the post office snaked all the way out the
door and around the corner.
•Rhonda is my half sister.
•There must be a full moon out tonight.
7. 3. Hyphenated compound words are connected by a hyphen. To avoid confusion,
modifying compounds are often hyphenated, especially when they precede a noun such as
in the case of part-time teacher, high-speed chase, and fifty-yard dash.
One-half
Mother-in-law
• Eighty-six
• One-third
Merry-go-round
• Well-being
Mass-produced
Over-the-counter
Daughter-in-law
•
•
•
•
•
•
•My mother-in-law is coming for a visit.
•The merry-go-round at the carnival thrilled Ella.
•Some over-the-counter drugs can have serious side
effects.
•If you’re concerned for your well-being make sure
you eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise.
8. Compound Nouns may be formed from
1. Noun + Noun:
Chess
Board
Chessboard
Moon
Light
Moonlight
Mail
Box
Mailbox
Post
Man
Postman
Rail
Way
Railway
Tooth
Brush
Toothbrush
Girl
Friend
Girlfriend
Butter
Milk
Buttermilk
9. 2. Adjective + Noun:
Soft
Ware
Software
Red
Head
Redhead
Quick
Silver
Quicksilver
Green
House
Greenhouse
Short
Hand
Shorthand
Noble
Man
Nobleman
10. 3. Verb + Noun:
Break
Fast
Breakfast
Dare
Devil
Daredevil
Pop
Corn
Popcorn
Make
Shift
Makeshift
Hang
Man
Hangman
12. 5. Adverb(or Preposition) +
Noun:
Out
Outlaw
Outlaw
After
Thought
Afterthought
Fore
Thought
Forethought
Over
Coat
Overcoat
Down
Fall
Downfall
After
Noon
Afternoon
In
Mate
Inmate
By
Pass
By pass
13. 6. Verb + Adverb:
Draw
Back
Drawback
Lock
Up
Lock-up
Go
Between
Go-between
Die
Hard
Die-hard
Send
Off
Send-off
14. 7. Adverb + Verb :
Out
Set
Outset
Up
Keep
Upkeep
Out
Cry
Outcry
In
Come
Income
Out
Come
Outcome
Out
Put
Output
