Nouns: Compound Nouns, Noun Phrases - Английский язык с Марией Батхан.
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Nouns: Compound Nouns, Noun Phrases

Nouns: Compound Nouns, Noun Phrases


A compound noun usually consists of two parts: the first noun indicates what class of things the second one belongs to. The first noun is typically used in the singular form:

 

a street lamp

a dog food

a landing strip

 

However, there are several occasions when the first noun can be used in plural.

 

with the nouns that are always plural:

 

a clothes shop

a pyjamas party

a glasses rim

 

when we talk about an institution (a department, an industry):

 

a sales department

a road materials industry

a concrete components institution

 

Pay attention to the fact that the second noun becomes plural if we need to use the compound noun in plural:

 

door bells

garden statues

 

Types of compound nouns

 

 

There are situations when we can’t use the noun+noun structure. In this case, we need to use a noun + ‘s + noun:

 

when the first noun is the user of the second noun:

 

the wife’s car, a baby’s rocking horse, a child’s playpen, a girls’ room

 

when the item described by the second noun is produced by the object described by the first one:

 

goat’s cheese, cow’s milk, bird’s eggs

 

when we talk about body parts of people and animals:

 

a baby’s foot, a woman’s hand, a dog’s nose

 

Hyphens in compound nouns

 

A compound noun needs a hyphen when it consists of a verb and an adverb (to show that the adverb is linked with the compound rather than any other elements of the sentence): sign-off, shake-out, stake-out:

 

You are charged one dollar at the sign-up to check if your credit card can proceed with a transaction.

 

If a compound noun consists of a verb as the second element and is preceded by a noun consisting of more than one syllable, this compound noun is either hyphenated or presented as two words: cabinet-maker, boiler-maker, cauliflower grower, sheep farmer.

In this case, you will need to check in your dictionary whether a hyphen is needed or not.

 

I think we need to hire a market-maker to trade our shares in order to launch the product.

 

Careless drivers are dangerous for all road users.

 

It’s a challenge for a dairy farmer not to run out of silage.

 

She’s a truly talented speech-maker.

 

You should hyphenate expressions in which each element has equal status, and expressions in which the elements rhyme: owner-driver, city-state, philosopher-king, hocus-pocus.

 

Most individual owner-operators never apply for a policy of insurance.

 

Some people treat medicine as a hocus-pocus.

 

A new bar-restaurant has started up at the corner.

 

If an adjective + noun compound acts as a modifier (used as an adjective), a hyphen is required: middle-class neighborhood, high-quality boots, fire-proof jacket.

 

We are currently working on building a future-proof PC.

 

She’s been diagnosed with a low-stage tumor.

 

You can make high-risk investments only if you are ready to lose your money at any moment.

 

If a participle + noun or noun + participle compound is used as an adjective, a hyphen is also required: a swimming-suit sale, an English-speaking friend.

 

There is a running-shoe sale at the mall.

 

It’s a rocking-chair cushion. I need it to reduce my back pain.

 

He is a trouble-making type.

 

Compound nouns that consist of a noun + participle (in any order) are to be hyphenated when they are used as an adjective: a garden-filled city, cutting-edge methods. In other cases, no hyphens are needed.

 

All drug-tested patients are required to stay in hospital until the results are provided.

 

All the patients admitted to hospital must be drug tested.

 

A compound noun that has three or more words may either be hyphenated or not: editor in chief, base on balls, give-and-take, good-for-nothing, know-it-all, justice of the peace, jack-of-all-trades, pick-me-up, stick-to-itiveness.

 

She is an I-will-never-call-you-back girl.

 

Your visit was a jack-in-the-box for me.

 

Every compound noun should either be memorized or checked with a dictionary.