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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #350: Compound words





    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Compound words [Change theme]
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    Compound words - English lesson


    COMPOUND NOUNS

    Words can be combined to form compound nouns. They normally have two parts. The second part identifies the object or person in question (man, friend, tank, table, room). The first part tells us what kind of object or person it is, or what its purpose is (police, boy, water, dining, bed)

    The two parts may be written in a number of ways :

    1. as one word.
    Example: policeman, boyfriend

    2. as two words joined with a hyphen.
    Example: dining-table

    3. as two separate words.
    Example: fish tank.

    There are no clear rules.

    The two parts
    Examples
    noun + noun
    		 bedroom
    water tank
    motorcycle
    printer cartridge
    noun + verb
    		 rainfall
    haircut
    train-spotting
    noun + adverb
    		 hanger-on
    passer-by
    verb + noun
    		 washing machine
    driving licence
    swimming pool
    verb + adverb
    		 lookout
    take-off
    drawback
    adjective + noun
    		 greenhouse
    software
    redhead
    adjective + verb
    		 dry-cleaning
    public speaking
    adverb + noun
    		 onlooker
    bystander
    adverb + verb
    		 output
    overthrow
    upturn
    input

     

    TEST

    Try to build compound words with these words:

    Example: boy + friend = boyfriend

    green, hair, room, printer, bed, licence, cut, washing, machine, driving, house, pool, cartridge, swimming




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    1. A place where you can grow vegetables and flowers = a .

    2. In your house, there is a where you can sleep.

    3. My clothes are dirty. I put them into the .

    4. Sarah went to the hairdresser's. She's got a very nice .

    5. I need a to use a car.

    6. My printer doesn't work any longer. The is empty.

    7. The weather is very warm. Let's go to the !









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