Word Formation: Compound Nouns

Starter

Look at this list of words. What do they all have in common?

alarm clock, birthday, football, homework, sunflower, weekend

How are these words different to ones like car, dog or house?

These words are all nouns which are made by combining two nouns together.

These types of words called compound words or in this case compound nouns.

alarm clock, birthday, football, homework, sunflower, weekend

What is the relationship between the first and second noun in each word?

The second noun tells us what the whole word refers to e.g. clock, ball, flower.

The first noun specifies the type more precisely: alarm clock (not grandfather clock), football (not tennis ball), or sunflower (not elderflower).

The second noun is the base noun and the first is the specifying noun.

• What other noun + noun compound words can you think of? 
• Can you make compound nouns with other word classes? 

Activity 1

Organise these compound nouns into three categories.

The categories are distinguished by what word class comes before the base noun. 

You should have organised the compound words into these three categories (in any order!): 

1. noun + noun 

• caveman, teacup, finger nail

2. adjective + noun 

• blackbird, red card, smallpox

3. present participle + noun

• frying pan, humming bird, washing machine

Activity 2

Here are some more compound nouns that have been separated. Match the two appropriate parts together.

Drag the cards together to connect and double click to separate.

Check your list of compound nouns with a partner. Do you notice any variations in how these words are formed?

Give me a Clue! Submit your Answers

Compound words can be spelled in two different ways:

1. As one word with the base and specifying word combined

• blackberry, toothpaste, wallpaper

2. As two words with a space between the base and specifying words

• black market, chewing gum, country house

Activity 3

Look back at today's lesson.

Choose ten compound words and write a sentence for each one. 

Extension

Keep an eye out for compound words in everyday life. Businesses often invent compound words to give new names to their products e.g. playstation.

Tell the class what compound words you have spotted. Or, invent some original compound words for new ideas or inventions