Understanding all About Compound Words, (Includes a List of the 1000 most common Compound Words)

When two words are used together to yield a new meaning, a compound is formed.

Compound words can be written in three ways:

Open compounds (spelled as two words, e.g., ice cream),

Closed compounds (joined to form a single word, e.g., doorknob),

Hyphenated compounds (two words joined by a hyphen, e.g., long-term).

Sometimes, more than two words can form a compound (e.g., mother-in-law).

The most common spelling quandary English students face is whether to write compounds as separate words, one word, or hyphenated words.

The English language has a history of the formation of expressive compound words.

Examples include sun-stroke, pick-pocket, elbow-room, land-lord, humming-bird etc.

The two parts of a compound word are usually separated by a hyphen. However, in the case of many common compound words, the component parts have become so closely connected that they are now written as one word without any hyphen between them.

Examples are: sunstroke, landlord, pickpocket, overload etc.

In the case of some other compound words, complete integration has been achieved by modifying one or both of the component parts.

For example, pass time is now written as pastime. In the same way, holy day has become holiday and prime rose has become primrose.

There are different types of compound words

Noun + noun

Examples are: master-piece, table-cloth, maid-servant, bread-winner, shoe-maker etc.

Noun + gerund

Examples are: wool-gathering, snake-charming, bull-baiting, sooth-saying etc. Noun + adjective Examples are: court-martial, knight-errant

Gerund + noun

Examples are: piping-hot, walking-stick, drawing-room, laughing-stock, skipping-rope etc.

Adverb + noun

Examples are: out-patient, over-load, fore-sight, under-tone, in-sight etc.

Verb + noun

Examples are: dare-devil, cut-throat, break-fast, spend-thrift, pass-port etc.

Adjective + noun

Examples are: short-hand, free-thinker, lay-man, hard-ware, strong-hold etc.

Present participle + noun

Examples are: humming-bird, flying-fish, loving-kindness etc.

Pronoun + noun

Examples are: he-goat

Possessive noun + noun

(In this case, the apostrophe is usually omitted) Examples are: sportsman, craftsman, statesman, hair’s-breadth, stone’s-throw

Comments

The 50 Most Important Idioms for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.

Due to the complexities of English, nobody, native or second language learner can honestly brag about having a proficient level of the language without a solid knowledge of Idioms. Every day, in almost every conversation, native speakers will use idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, this means that when you, the second language learner uses an idiom in the correct context, that you have a more proficient level of English and therefore you sound more like a native speaker. Below is a list of 50 of the most important general idioms necessary for traveling the B2 to C2 language learning journey. With these idioms, you will be able to listen and speak more like a native speaker, therefore, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. Study tips for how to learn idioms. The 60 most important phrasal verbs for achieving a B2 to C2 level of English. I...

The 60 Most Important Phrasal Verbs for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.

Due to the complexities of English, nobody can honestly brag about having a proficient level of the language without a solid knowledge of phrasal verbs and Idioms. Every day, in almost every conversation, native speakers will use phrasal verbs idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, this means that when you, the second language learner uses a phrasal verb or idiom in the correct context, that you have a more proficient level of English and therefore you sound more like a native speaker. Below is a list of 60 of the most important general phrasal verbs necessary for traveling the B2 to C2 language learning journey. With these phrasal verbs, you will be able to listen and speak more like a native speaker, therefore, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. The 50 Most Important Idioms for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English. Study tips for how...

40 of the Most Important Expressions for Achieving an Advanced level of English

English is full of various forms of common expressions, be it idioms, phrasal verbs, metaphors, similes, slang etc and is basically a phrase or saying that is commonly used in everyday English to express certain ideas or opinions. Understanding English expressions is important for two reasons, firstly because they require a deeper familiarity of the English language to comprehend what someone means when they use them in conversation, and secondly, for those who live, work or study in an English speaking society, they reinforce your ability to understand the world in which you are living. Expressions may seem complicated at first, but they can actually be a lot of fun to learn. Common Expressions: A New Way to Express Yourself in the English Language The meaning of an expression generally depends on the specific context in which it is used. When someone tells you to ‘break a leg’, for example, they aren’t saying that in a literal sense, but instead are wishing you...

The English teachers voice

Search This Blog