What is a Compound Noun? Definition, Types & Examples

Compound nouns are used to identify a class of people, places, things or a particular name. It is an important topic for all students, especially for those who are preparing for competitive examinations. One or more questions from this topic are asked in every competitive examination.  This article will provide you with an introduction to compound nouns, types, and examples of compound nouns.

What is a Compound Noun? 

A compound noun is a type of noun that is formed by combining two or more words to create a new noun. There are three types of compound nouns, including Open or spaced compound nouns, hyphenated compound nouns, and closed or solid compound nouns.

Definition of Compound Noun

"Compound Noun is a noun that is made with two or more words together." 

We can also say - "Compound Nouns are made by joining more than one word together." 

Also Read: Parts of Speech

Types of Compound Nouns With Examples

There are three main types of Compound Nouns. 

1. Closed or Solid Compound Nouns

2. Spaced or Open Compound Nouns

3. Hyphenated Compound Nouns

Closed or Solid Compound Nouns

Closed or Solid Compound Noun is made up by joining two words without any spaces or hyphens. 

Examples: Sunflower, Football, Bathroom, Rainfall etc.

Spaced or Open Compound Nouns

It is made up of joining two words with a space. 

Examples : Cricket bat, Fast food, Ice cream, Rain forest etc. 

Hyphenated Compound Noun 

Hyphenated Compound Noun is made up by joining two or more words by a hyphen. 

Examples : Mother-in-law, Self - esteem, Father-in-law etc. 

Compound Nouns Examples 

Washing machine, Greenhouse, Dining - table, Bus stop, Swimming pool, Sunrise, Sunset, Blackboard, Whiteboard, Mother - in - law, Output, Check - out, Check-in, Haircut, Hotspot, Smartphone, Hardware, Long lasting, Underline, Underground, Shutdown, Input, Overthrow. 

Forming Compound Nouns with all Parts of Speech  

Compound Nouns can be formed by combining different parts of speech such as noun, verb, preposition and adjective. Here we form compound Nouns with the help of all parts of speech. A compound noun can be a common noun, proper noun or an abstract noun.

Noun + Noun 

Noun + Verb 

Noun + Preposition

Preposition + Verb 

Verb + Preposition

Preposition + Noun 

Adjective + Noun 

Adjective + Verb 

List of Compound Nouns

Washing machine, Greenhouse, Dining - table, Bus stop, Swimming pool, Sunrise, Sunset, Blackboard, Whiteboard, Mother - in - law, Output, Check - out , Check - in , Haircut , Hotspot, Smartphone , Hardware, Long lasting, Underline, Underground, Shutdown, Input, Overthrow. 

Rules for Compound Noun

1. When the compound noun is singular or a single word, make it plural by adding s to the end.

Examples : 

Underline - underlines 

Hotspot - hotspots

2. When the compound noun is hyphenated or separated, make it plural by adding s to the word that is plural. 

Example : 

Mother-in-law = Two mothers-in-law 

Difference Between Compound Nouns and Collective Noun

A collective noun is a single word which refers to a group or a team and that can be singular or plural. 

Examples : 

flock = A group of birds 

Troop = A group of army 

Team = A group of player 

A compound noun is made up of more than one word. 

Examples : 

Blackboard = black + board 

Ice cream = Ice + cream 

Overnight = over + night 

Compound Noun Vs Collective Noun

Comound Noun Exercises

Read the sentences carefully and identify the compound nouns given below.

1. Write something on the blackboard.

2. My teacher had a heart attack.

3. They swim in the swimming pool. 

4. Rahul's father-in-law went to America last month. 

5. My friend booked a dining - table for his colleagues in a restaurant. 

6. In 2022, Argentina won the FIFA football match. 

7. Do not drive without a driving licence.

8. Please underline the word. 

9. Due to inflation, many  Chinese companies shut down their company. 

10. She is my mother-in-law. 

Answer 

1. blackboard

2. heart attack

3. swimming pool

4. father - in - law

5. dining - table

6. football

7. driving licence.

8. underline

9. shutdown

10. mother-in-law. 

Also Check:

• Relative Pronoun
• English Grammar
• Pronouns
• Possessive Adjectives
• Personal Pronoun
• Rules of Tenses in Grammar
• What is Tense ?
• Simple Present Tense
• Simple Future Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Simple Past Tense
• English Tenses Archives
• Past Perfect Tense
• Future Continuous Tense
• Future Perfect Tense