PREMODIFICATION

Many common ideas in Englsih are expressed by

noun + noun compounds.
In this structure, the first noun modifies or
describes the second, a little like an adjective.

• milk chocolate (a kind of chocolate)

chocolate milk (a kind of milk)
 Guess the meaning.
• a horse race
a race horse
• a garden flower
a flower garden
• a sheepdog
• the airport bus
 Note that the first noun is usually in
SINGULAR form, even if it has a plural
meaning.

• a shoe shop (a shop that selly shoes)

• a toothbrush (a brush for teeth)
• a ticket office (an office that sells tickets)
 measurement
Noun + noun is used in measurements, with a number
before the first noun.
The number is usually joined to the first noun by
a hyphen (-).
• a five-litre can (NOT a five-litres can)
• a ten-pound note (NOT a ten-pounds note)
• a hundred-dollar bill
• a five-day course
The numbere one is often left out.
• a (one-)pint mug
 Some nouns are plural in premodification.

Nouns with no singular form (like clothes) or

nouns which are not used in the singular with
the same meaning (like customs)
• a clothes shop
• a glasses case
• a customs officer
• arms control
• a sports car