Types of compound nouns
A compound noun is formed by combining two or more words to create a new noun with its own meaning. The most common types are:
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| noun + noun | football pitch, traffic jam, toothpaste, sunglasses, car park, bedroom, post office, coffee table |
| adjective + noun | greenhouse, blackboard, smartphone, software, wildlife, shortcut, deadline |
| verb + noun | swimming pool, driving licence, washing machine, dining room, running shoes |
| noun + verb | sunrise, sunrise, rainfall, haircut, heartbeat |
One word, hyphen, or two words?
English is inconsistent. Some compounds are one word (toothpaste), some hyphenated (well-known), some two words (car park). When in doubt, check a dictionary — but meaning is always clear from stress.
Stress: first element is stressed
In compound nouns, the first element carries the main stress. This distinguishes them from adjective + noun phrases (where both words may receive stress).
| Compound noun (stress on 1st) | Adjective + noun phrase (both stressed) |
|---|---|
| a GREENhouse (= building for plants) | a GREEN HOUSE (= a house that is painted green) |
| a BLACKboard (= classroom board) | a BLACK BOARD (= any board that is black) |
| a FOOTball pitch | a DIRTY PITCH |
Time expressions with possessive 's
Time periods can be used as possessives to describe duration or quantity. This is called the genitive of measure.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| singular: 's | a day's work · a week's holiday · a minute's silence · a year's experience |
| plural: s' | two hours' drive · three weeks' notice · ten minutes' walk · five days' travel |
Equivalent with "of":
"a week's holiday" = "a holiday of a week". Both are correct, but the possessive form is more natural in spoken English. The possessive form is NOT used with non-time nouns in this pattern.
"It's a ten-minute walk from here." (adjective before noun — hyphenated, no -s)
"It's ten minutes' walk from here." (possessive — plural + apostrophe)
"The walk takes ten minutes." (no possessive needed as predicate)
"It's ten minutes' walk from here." (possessive — plural + apostrophe)
"The walk takes ten minutes." (no possessive needed as predicate)
Exercises
Choose the correct form.
1. We stayed in ___ apartment. It had beautiful plants inside.
2. After ___ training, she felt ready for the marathon.
3. The office is about ___ from the station.
4. Which is the compound noun? "She has a ___."
5. Please give us ___ notice before you leave.