WORKBOOK

Teaching Vocabulary

Compound Words

Name of the student:

Compound Words

What is a compound word?

Compound words are created when two or more words combine to form a
single word or a phrase that functions as a single word.

A compound word is a word made up of usually two but sometimes more

words that are joined together. The two (or more) that make the
compound word are independent words; they have their own distinct
meanings. When those words are joined and form a compound word, that
compound word has its own new meaning.

3 Types of Compound Words

• Closed Compound Words

- Closed compound words are usually made up of two separate words
that are put together to form a new word. There is no space between
the two words in a closed-form compound word; the compound
appears as one single word.
Examples:

Cup + cake becomes cupcake

Basket + ball becomes basketball

Key + board becomes keyboard

Extra + ordinary becomes extraordinary

Birth + day becomes birthday

Chess + board becomes chessboard

 Room + mate becomes roommate

• Hyphenated Compound Words

- Hyphenated compound words have hyphens between each of the
independent words that serve as connectors. The hyphens are a visual
cue that the words form one unit.
Examples:
▪ High-speed chase
▪ Part-time employee
▪ Full-time job
▪ Fire-resistant pajamas
▪ Good-looking person

• Open Compound Words

- In an open compound word, there is a space between the two
independent words, though they are still treated as one unit with a
new “compound meaning.”
Examples:
▪ Living room: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a room in a
house.
▪ Post office: as a unit, this compound refers to a building where mail is
collected, sorted, and sent.
▪ Give up: as a unit, this compound verb means to stop trying.

Why do we need to learn compound words?

Learning how to take compound words apart is as important as knowing how

to form them. Coming at it from the other direction can help consolidate an
idea in a child's brain. For older students, compound words can be an
opportunity to reinforce the parts of a sentence and how they can work
together.
Activities/Exercises

Activity I:

Instructions: Write a compound word from the two pictures shown.

+ =
1.

+ =
2.

+ =
3.
Activity II:
Instructions: Write a compound word from the two words shown.

1. Note + Book = __________________________

2. Shoe + Lace = ___________________________
3. light + Bulb = ___________________________
4. Tea + Pot = _____________________________
5. Cup + Board = __________________________

Activity III:
Instructions: Write the second word of the compound word.

Example:
Sunrise or Sunshine
1. Bed______
2. Tooth_______
3. Check______
4. Basket______
5. Moon______
6. Air_______
7. Eye_______
8. Base______
9. Snow______
10. Tea______
Reflection
Write an essay about how compound words help your vocabulary learning.

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