NAME:

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Compound Nouns Interactive Worksheet

A. Look at the pictures (1 to 8) and complete the compound nouns using the words
from the box. Then, match each compound noun with its compound elements.

out cut board machine cleaning pass bone room

........ a. noun + noun

1. dry ............................ 5. white .........................
........ b. noun + verb

........ c. preposition + noun

........ d. verb + preposition

2. hair ............................ 6. by ..............................
........ e. verb + noun

........ f. adjective + noun

........ g. adjective + verb

3. back .......................... 7. bed ............................
........ h. preposition + verb

4. washing ...................... 8. take ...........................

B. Fill in the gaps with suitable compound nouns from Exercise A.

1. We should take the ....................... so we don't get stuck in the city centre traffic jams.

2. I need a new ....................... because mine isn't washing clothes very well anymore.

3. I can't eat all this pasta, can I have it as a .......................?

4. Can you go and pick up my ....................... from the launderette?

5. I took my dog for a ....................... yesterday. Now, she looks very neat and tidy.

6. I fell over at the athletics competition and hurt my .......................

7. The classroom has a projector and a .......................

8. I pay the most rent because my ....................... is the largest and has its own bathroom.

9. What do you want for dinner tonight? Shall we order a .......................?

10. The villagers aren't happy about the new ....................... because it will go past their houses.

11. The easiest way to clean your clothes is with a ....................... and a tumble dryer.

12. I think my son needs a ....................... but he likes his hair long to cover his face.

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 COMPOUND NOUNS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Compound Nouns Interactive Worksheet

C. Match the words together to make 12 compound nouns. Then, write the compound
elements for each one below, e.g. preposition + verb, adjective + noun, etc.

1. air ........ a. rise

2. green ........ b. mate

3. run ........ c. put

4. out ........ d. fall

5. rain ........ e. house

6. swimming ........ f. board

7. class ........ g. talk

8. draw ........ h. food

9. sun ........ i. port

10. small ........ j. back

11. sea ........ k. pool

12. skate ........ l. way

1. ............................................................ 7. .............................................................

2. ............................................................ 8. .............................................................

3. ............................................................ 9. .............................................................

4. ............................................................ 10. ...........................................................

5. ............................................................ 11. ...........................................................

6. ............................................................ 12. ...........................................................

D. Write a sentence about each picture using a compound noun.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

1. ................................................................................................................................

2. ................................................................................................................................

3. ................................................................................................................................

4. ................................................................................................................................

5. ................................................................................................................................

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