COMPOUND WORDS

Compound words are created by combining two or more words together to create a new word. This process is called compounding
and is a common way to create new words in the English language. Compound words can be formed in a variety of ways and can
be found in a variety of contexts, from technical writing to casual conversation.

There are three main types of compound words:

 Open compounds are formed by two or more words that are written separately, such as "air conditioner" or "coffee mug."
 Closed compounds, on the other hand, are formed by two or more words that are written as a single word, such as
"sunglasses" or "toothpaste."
 Hyphenated compounds are formed by two or more words that are joined together by a hyphen, such as "well-being" or
"self-esteem."

Compound words can also be formed by combining a verb and a noun, such as "firefly" or "swimsuit," or by combining a noun and
an adjective, such as "bluebird" or "blackboard." These types of compound words are often used to describe objects or ideas in a
concise and efficient way.

Some compound words make perfect sense. Bedbugs? They’re bugs that live on your bed (among other places). Railroad? It’s a
road constructed from rails. Waterfall? It’s where the water ... falls. The list goes on: afternoon, earthquake, popcorn, graveyard,
airport—all of these words just work. Other compound words … not so much. A nightmare is not a nocturnal horse. To kidnap
somebody is not related to children taking naps. This is because, in addition to their practical uses, compound nouns can also add
creativity and humor to language. For example, the compound noun "brainstorm" is a clever way to describe the process of
generating new ideas, while the compound noun "bookworm" is a fun way to describe someone who loves reading.

a) Underline in each sentence the compound nouns.

1) The tin opener was old and rusty, so it was difficult to use.
2) My favorite film star is Leonardo DiCaprio because he's such a versatile actor.
3) I forgot to bring change for the parking meter, so I had to park elsewhere.
4) My brother-in-law is coming to visit us next weekend.
5) It's always a good idea to have a first aid kit on hand in case of emergencies.
6) Table tennis is a fun and competitive indoor sport to play with friends.
7) She wore a beautiful pair of earrings that perfectly matched her dress.
8) I always wear my sunglasses when I go outside to protect my eyes from the sun.
9) I bought a new pack of writing paper to start my journaling habit.
10) I had to file my income tax returns by April 15th this year.

b) Complete the sentences with a suitable word to make compound nouns:

1. The traffic __________ turned red, so I had to stop my car and wait for the green light.
2. I always set my __________ clock to wake up early in the morning.
3. I forgot to bring my __________ card, so I had to pay in cash.
4. My washing __________ broke down, and I had to do laundry at the launderette.
5. The pedestrian__________ was busy, so we had to wait for several minutes before we could cross the street.
6. The dining____________ was beautifully decorated with a chandelier and a large dining table.
7. We hired a baby-___________ to look after our kids while we went out for dinner.
8. My ________ tongue is Spanish, and I'm fluent in it.
9. I enjoy reading _________fiction books because they take me on exciting journeys to other worlds.
10. The _______ office for the new movie was crowded, so we had to wait in line for our tickets.
COMPOUND ADJECTIVES

A compound adjective is formed from two different words, and occasionally three. They are usually written with a
hyphen (e.g. good-looking, well-known). Many compound adjectives describe a person´s appearance, character and
situation.

1) Read the text and match the compound adjectives with their meanings.

This is William. He isn’t well-known, he isn’t well- a. Rich

off, and I’ve never heard anyone say he was good- b. Completely new
looking. But he’s a very nice man –kind, friendly c. Famous
and very easy-going. In this picture he’s wearing a d. relaxed
short-sleeved shirt and a brand-new hat. e. attractive

She was a quick-witted, blue-eyed woman with long hair who was also known a) Clever when replying
for being sharp-tongued. Despite this, she was actually good-natured, always b) Happy, not serious
willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. She had a thick-skinned c) Criticizing people
personality and was not easily offended by others' comments. Her light- d) determined
hearted nature made her the life of the party, and her friends enjoyed her e) Friendly and pleasant
free-spirited approach to life. She was highly respected for her strong-willed f) Not limited by social
determination and her ability to stand up for what she believed in. rules

2) Well and badly

These adverbs combine with many past participles to form compound adjectives. Use one of the words from the box
+ well or badly to complete the sentences.

damaged informed written beaten timed educated

deserved equipped behaved mannered lit known

1. Sarah is a __________________ young lady who always says please and thank you.
2. The _______________ car was towed away from the accident scene.
3. Jack is a ____________________ author who has published several bestselling books.
4. It was a ______________ joke and nobody laughed.
5. And he finally got his _________________ promotion in the company.
6. The ______________ boxer was taken to the hospital after the fight.
7. The ______________ kitchen had all the necessary tools and appliances for cooking.
8. The _________________ dog kept barking and jumping on visitors.
9. ______________ voters may not know enough about the candidates and issues to make informed decisions.
10. It is a ___________________ essays with clear arguments, strong evidence, and proper grammar.
11. We can’t work there because the room is ______________ and we can’t see anything.
12. _______________ people tend to have more career opportunities and earn higher salaries.

3) A “five-minute walk”
It is common to combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound adjective. Look at the words in italics
and rewrite the sentences using a compound adjective, as in the example.

It’s a drive of fifteen minutes  It’s a fifteen-minute drive.

He works in a hotel with a rating of four stars. 

I gave her a note with a value of five pounds. 

The winner was a girl who is ten years old. 

There was a delay of two hours on our flight. 

EXTRA

1) Complete the sentences with a suitable compound noun.

2) Complete the compound adjectives in these sentences

3. Complete the compound word in each sentence with a word from the box.
4. Underline the most suitable compound word.

5. Complete the compound word in each sentence with a word from the box.