Compound Nouns

The compound noun consists of a noun head with another item. It has two or more than two words which work together. Now read the following sentences in which underlined words are compound nouns:

• My sister-in-law is a medical doctor. 
• If I want I can make a last-minute cancellation.
• She took a calculated risk in accepting a cheap offer.
• The Prime Minister flew to Pokhara by charter flight.

Features of Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are characterized by some features. Some of them can be discussed here.

1. Compound nouns consist of two or more words but some of them are written without hyphens or space between them. Examples: blackboard, pairwork, headteacher, classroom, fireman, etc.
2. Some compound nouns consisting of two words are written as two different words although they refer to a single entity in their sense. Examples: car park, school teacher, bus stop, fire alarm, youth club, etc.
3. Some compound nouns are written with one or more hyphens. Examples: father-in-law, wine-cooler, commander-in-chief, take-off, runner-up, etc.However, there is also some inconsistency in writing compound nouns. Examples: post-box, postbox, post box
4. The elements in compound nouns are closely bound to each other syntactically and cannot normally be interrupted or broken by other elements because compounds are considered as the single heads in the noun phrase. Example: petrol station. It cannot be written as petrol motorway station.

Structure of Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are made up in various ways. Each compound non consists of a noun head with another item normally placed before it in a very close syntactic and semantic relationship. In most of the compound nouns consisting two elements, the second element is usually the head and the initial item most typically identifies the class entities denoted by the second item. Examples:

• video shop (It is a shop.)
• bathroom door (It is a door.)
• mango juice (It is a kind of juice.)

Common structure of compound nouns can be presented as below:

1. Noun + Noun: In some compound nouns both items are nouns. The second element becomes the head here. Examples: video shop, postbox, sports center, etc.
2. Adjective + Noun: Here, the second item becomes the head of the compound noun. Examples: blackboard, direct current, static electricity, right angle, etc.
3. Noun/Verb + Adverb: The first item is often the head and the second is a particle. Some of them are hyphenated. Examples: break-up, flypast, layout, stand-by, etc.
4. Noun + and + Noun: These compounds are called binomial phrases. These nouns are fixed in the order of words, and they can be singular or plural in form. Examples: aims and objectives, ladies and gentlemen, health and safety, etc.
5. Compound Nouns Made up of Three or More Words: Some compound nouns are made up of three or more words, typically beginning with a noun. They are hyphenated. Examples: brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stay-at-home, forget-me-not, etc.
6. Noun-Noun: These compound nouns are combinations of two things. Examples: sergeant-major, shampoo-conditioner, etc.
7. Object + Noun: In some compound nouns, the first item (noun) is the object of the second item (noun). Examples: bus-driver, concrete mixer, self-control, screwdriver, etc.