Page 117 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

r, f
C o m p o u n d n o u n s ( 1 )
nouns
(1)
Compound

someone
about
more
or
we want to
we
sometimes
specific information
something,
give
When we want to give more specific information about someone or something, we sometimes
When
use a noun in front of another noun. For example, we can use a noun + noun combination to
use a noun in front of another noun. For example, we can use a noun + noun combination to
made
something
of, where
is,
something happens,
or what
someone
when
say what something is is made of, where something is, when something happens, or what someone fe
say what something
does:
does:
flight
rice pudding
the kitchen cupboard
hill fog
a night
a glasshouse
• * rice pudding a glasshouse the kitchen cupboard hill fog a night flight
a morning call a language teacher a window-cleaner
a window-cleaner
a language teacher
a morning call
a particular combination is regularly used to make a new noun, it is called a COMPOUND
When a particular combination is regularly used to make a new noun, it is called a COMPOUND
When
We sometimes make compound nouns which consist of more than two nouns:
NOUN.
NOUN. We sometimes make compound nouns which consist of more than two nouns:
a milk chocolate bar
an air-traffic controller
• ¢ a milk chocolate bar an air-traffic controller a dinner-party conversation
a dinner-party conversation
are usually written as one word (e.g. a tablecloth), some as separate
Some compound nouns
Some compound nouns are usually written as one word (e.g. a tablecloth), some as separate
(e.g. waste paper), and others with a hyphen (e.g. a word-processor). Some compound
words
words (e.g. waste paper), and others with a hyphen (e.g. a word-processor). Some compound
be written in more than one of these ways (e.g. a golf course or a golf-course).
nouns can be written in more than one of these ways (e.g. a golf course or a golf-course).
nouns can
dictionary will tell you how a particular compound noun is usually written.
A good
A good dictionary will tell you how a particular compound noun is usually written.
it usually has
singular form:
a
if the first noun
has
a plural meaning,
Even if the first noun has a plural meaning, it usually has a singular form: 54
Even
an address book (= a book for addresses; not an addresses book)
2 • ¢ an address book (= a book for addresses; not an addresses book)
a car park (= a place for parking cars; not a cars park)
a car park (= a place for parking cars; not a cars park)
However, there are a number of exceptions. These include:
However, there are a number of exceptions. These include:
different meaning in singular/plural or
nouns that are only used in the plural, or have a
• ¢ nouns that are only used in the plural, or have a different meaning in singular/plural or
countable/uncountable:
countable/uncountable:
a clothes shop (compare a shoe shop)
a glasses case (= for spectacles)
a darts match
• ¢ aclothes shop (compare a shoe shop) a darts match a glasses case (= for spectacles)
a customs officer the arms trade a communications network a savings account 54
a savings account
the arms trade
a communications network
a customs officer
such
cases
as
• * cases such as
the building materials industry
the publications department
• ¢ the building materials industry the publications department
(an industry, department, etc.) which deals with
when we refer to an institution of some kind
when we refer to an institution of some kind (an industry, department, etc.) which deals with
more than one item or activity (building materials, publications). Compare:
more than one item or activity (building materials, publications). Compare:
the appointment board (= the board which deals with a particular appointment)
• ¢ the appointment board (= the board which deals with a particular appointment) ld
the appointments board (= the board which deals with all appointments)
the appointments board (= the board which deals with all appointments) -
make a compound noun plural we usually make the second noun plural:
To make a compound noun plural we usually make the second noun plural:
To
office-worker(s)
coalmine(s)
• * coal mine(s) office-worker(s) tea leaf / tea leaves
tea leaf / tea leaves
a
in compound nouns that consists of two nouns joined by of or in,
plural
we make
@ However,
^However, in compound nouns that consists of two nouns joined by of or in, we make a plural
by making the first noun
plural:
*form by making the first noun plural:
*form
of thumb
of prey
bird(s)
• ¢ bird(s) of prey rule(s) of thumb commander(s)-in-chief
commander(s)-in-chief
rule(s)
Notice that we say:
Notice that we say:
speech
a 60-piece orchestra
a five-year-old child
a ten-minute
• * • ¢ atwo-third {or two-thirds) majority a five-time (or five-times) winner
a five-year-old child
a ten-minute speech
a 60-piece orchestra
Compound nouns (2) => '-ing noun'.) The -ing + noun. a working party function the following noun has:
say:
but we can say:
but we can
a two-third {or two-thirds)
majority
a five-time (or five-times) winner
is
-ing form
(This
'gerund',
sometimes called a
Some compound nouns consist of of -ing + noun. (This -ing form is sometimes called a 'gerund',
Some compound nouns consist
form
says what
usually
or
-ing
‘verbal noun’,
'verbal noun', or '-ing noun'.) The -ing form usually says what function the following noun has:
a living room
(a pack of) playing cards
chewing gum
drinking water
chewing gum
(a pack of) playing cards
drinking water
• * aliving room
a turning-point
a dressing gown
a turning-point
a dressing gown
a working party
nouns consist of a
-ing:
noun +
Other compound
Other compound nouns consist of a noun + -ing:
fly-fishing
life-saving
sunbathing
risk-taking
film-making
• °
sunbathing
risk-taking
fly-fishing
life-saving
film-making
Compound nouns (2) =