Not all words in English stand alone. There are several words formed by combining two or more words. These words created may have a completely new meaning as well. Such words formed by combining two or more words are known as Compound words. Go through this entire article to be well versed with every single detail such as Compound Words Definition, Meaning, Types, and Examples of Compound Words in English all explained clearly.
- Compound Words Definition
- Types of Compound Words
- Compound Words Examples
- When to Hyphenate a Compound Word?
- Exceptions to Compound Words
- What are compound words?
- What are the three types of compound words?
- Give examples for Hyphenated compound words?
- Distinguish between portmanteau and compound words?
Compound Words Definition
A Compound Word is a Word formed by combining two or more root words to form a different word. Compound words can be formed in different ways. The three categories of compound words are:
- Open compound words
- Closed compound words
- Hyphenated compound words
Types of Compound Words
Open Compound Words: Open compound words are written with a small gap between the smaller units that make them. Even though they stand apart, the words are meant to be read together so as to signify meaning. Examples of open compound words include the full moon, ice cream, mobile phone, etc.
Closed Compound Words: Written as a single word without any space between the smaller units. Examples include notebook, childlike, boyfriend, etc.
Hyphenated Compound Words: Hyphenated compound words are formed when two or more words are joined by a hyphen. A hyphen is used when the words joined are combined to form an adjective placed before a noun. Examples include T-shirts, well-known, mother-in-law, etc.
Compound Words Examples
Given below is a list of words that come under the different types of compound words:
Closed Compound Words
- everything
- schoolhouse
- grasshopper
- sunflower
- basketball
- anybody
- outside
- bullfrog
- snowball
- mailbox
- grandmother
- railroad
- cannot
- skateboard
- moonlight
- sometimes
- inside
- upstream
- sweet tooth
Open Compound Words
- hot dog
- grand jury
- post office
- full moon
- peanut butter
- Boy Scouts
- no one
- ice cream
- real estate
- high school
- living room
- half sister
- cave in
Hyphenated Compound Words
- up-to-date
- mother-in-law
- one-half
- over-the-counter
- two-fold
- check-in
- merry-go-round
- father-in-law
- seventy-two
- long-term
Not just these Compound Words List you can see our vast collection of Common Words and become familiar with various kinds of words.
When to Hyphenate a Compound Word?
The basic rules regarding hyphenated compound words are simple. Following these rules will help you to identify when to use a hyphen
- When you use a compound modifier before the word it modifies. Example: a well-laid plan
- Use a hyphen when you write compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine.
- Hyphens are also used in the case of ages and time spans in years. Example: seven-years
Exceptions to Compound Words
- There is no need of using a hyphen in the case of compound adjectives when the first term is either an adverb ending in “ly” or when the first term ends in “very”.
- Similarly, you don’t have to hyphenate compound adjectives when they appear after the noun they modify.
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FAQs on Compound Words
Compound words are words formed by combining two or more existing words. These words created may have a completely new meaning as well. Examples of such words include ice cream, high school, notebook, father-in-law, etc.
2) What are the three types of compound words?
Words formed by combining two or more words are known as Compound words. Compound words can be formed in three different ways. These include Open compound words, closed compound words, and hyphenated compound words.
3) Give examples for Hyphenated compound words?
Words formed by combining two or more words are known as Compound words. Hyphenated compound words are formed when two or more words are joined by a hyphen. Hyphen is used when the words joined together are combined to form an adjective placed before a noun Examples include T-shirt, well-known, mother-in-law etc.
4) Distinguish between portmanteau and compound words?
A Portmanteau word is distinct from a compound word. A portmanteau word is created by removing parts of the original words. On the other hand, the compound word is formed by simply combining the original words without altering them.
Conclusion
The addition of compound words can improve your writing skills as you are free to combine words in a more interesting and descriptive way. However, be aware of the fact that the addition of too many compound words can make your writings messy, especially the use of hyphenated compound words. Hence be sure to use compound words wisely.