UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO

Facultad de Filosofía y Letras

Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

1. VOCABULARY
As you already know, learning new words and expressions is essential for communicating in a foreign language.
We need words to emphasize the meanings we want to convey. Whether you are teaching a language, translating
from one language to another or doing research in a foreign language, it is of paramount importance that you build
up your linguistic storage, so that you can resort to your long-term memory and use the words you need to express
yourself!
Do you know about types of home? Where are they? What do they look like? Which parts can you find in each of
them? How would you describe each part/room? What are the differences between houses?
1. Look at the following set of pictures and describe them fully. Use the questions above to guide you:

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

2. Listen to this audio and choose the type of home shown in each picture. What type of home do you live in?

BUNGALOW
DETACHED HOUSE FARM HOUSE

FLAT/BLOCK OF FLATS
HOUSEBOAT MANSION

MOBILE HOME SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE TERRACED HOUSE

THATCHED COTTAGE VILLA HUT

3. Let’s learn some parts of the house! First, listen to this audio and put them into two groups: those that are
more likely to be a) part of the house and b) in a garden

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

Click on this link and do the exercise in our Moodle platform. What parts can you find at home? What parts
would you like your house to have?

4. Now, link the vocabulary we have learnt with your speaking practice. Click on this link and listen to four
people describing houses. Then, look at some expressions.

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

So far, we have explored some examples of compound nouns.

>>>What is a Compound Noun? <<<

Words can be combined to form compound nouns. These are very common, and new combinations are invented
almost daily. They normally have two parts. The first part tells us what kind of object or person it is, or what its
purpose is. The second part identifies the object or person in question. Compound nouns often have a meaning
that is different, or more specific, than the two separate words.

You have noticed that the compound noun can be written either as a single word, as a word with a hyphen, or as
two words. There are no clear rules about this. A good rule of thumb is to write the most common compound
nouns as one word, and the others as two words.
The elements in a compound noun are very diverse parts of speech.

First part: type or purpose Second part: what or who Compound noun
police man policeman
boy friend boyfriend
water tank water tank
dining table dining-table

Pronunciation

Stress is important in pronunciation, as it distinguishes between a compound noun and an adjective with a noun.
In compound nouns, the stress usually falls on the first syllable.

Examples

. a 'greenhouse = place where we grow plants (compound noun)

· a green 'house = house painted green (adjective and noun)
· a 'bluebird = type of bird (compound noun)
· a blue 'bird = any bird with blue feathers (adjective and noun)

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

Compound elements Examples

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

5. Click on this link and practice compound nouns.

EXTRA PRACTICE!

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CUYO
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Departamento de Inglés
Ingreso 2023 – Módulo de Competencias Básicas

ANSWER KEY:

AUTORA: Prof. Alejandra Martinez

Coordinadoras del módulo: Prof. Mgter. Samiah Hassan – Prof. Mgter. Verónica Segura