Compound Words in English: Vocabulary Building

What are “Compound Words”?

A compound word consists of two or more base words. Meaning of Compound word is often different from the separate base words.

Compound Words and Parts of Speech
Compound words are mostly nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

Kinds of Compound Words
Compound words are of three types:

(A). Closed Compound Words:
Words are joined together. There is no space or hyphen between the words.
Examples: firefly / softball / redhead / keyboard / makeup / notebook.

(B). Hyphenated Compound Words:
Words are joined together by a hyphen.
Examples: daughter-in-law / over-the-counter / six-year-old

(C). Open Compound Words:
Words are not joined together. Words are open or separate. In other words, there is a space between the words.
Examples: post office / real estate / full moon / half sister

Some general rules regarding use of hyphens:-
Compound Adjectives are often hyphenated
If compound adjective precedes a noun, they are hyphenated
low-paying job [low- paying is a compound adjective; job is a noun]
good-looking celebrity [good-looking is a compound adjective; celebrity is a noun]

Adverbs that end in –ly and compounded with another modifier are not hyphenated:
quietly organized meeting / highly placed sources

Also note:
1. Some compound words which are hyphenated in American English are not hyphenated in British English
Example: cash-back [American English]; cashback [British English]

2. Some compound words may have more than one form but these forms may belong to different parts of speech.

Examples:
bread and butter [open form] [noun]
bread-and-butter [closed form] [adjective]

charge sheet [open form][noun]
chargesheet [closed form] [verb]

fast track [open form] [noun]
fast-track [hyphenated form] [adjective, verb]

first degree [open form] [noun]
first-degree [hyphenated form] [adjective]

full time [open form] [noun]
full-time [hyphenated form] [adjective, adverb]

gift wrap [open form] [noun]
gift-wrap [hyphenated form] [verb]

hard core [open form] [noun]
hard-core [hyphenated form] [adjective]

hard line [open form] [noun]
hard-line [hyphenated form] [adjective]

road test [open form] [noun]
road-test [hyphenated form] [verb]

second hand [open form] [noun]
second-home [hyphenated form] [adjective]

Formation of Compound Words

Compound Words Are Formed In The Following Ways:

(A). Compound words with adjective and adjective
adjective + adjective
bittersweet / blue-black / red-hot / white-hot

(B). Compound words with adjective and noun
adjective + noun
blackboard / black man / bluebird / common room / concrete idea / deep-sea / electric light / fool play / free trade / full-length / high school / hot water / last-minute / loudspeaker / low-key / madman / midday / monthly ticket / nobleman / old boy / poorhouse / red heart / shorthand / smallpox / stronghold / sweetheart / wild boar / widespread

(C). Compound words with adjective and verb
adjective + verb
broadcast / clear-cut / dry-clean / fulfill / safeguard / whitewash

(D). Compound words with adjective and past participle
adjective + past participle
cold-blooded / kindhearted / long-haired / long forgotten / old-fashioned / short-sighted / well-known / well-mannered

(E). Compound words with adjective and present participle
adjective + present participle
free-standing / good-looking / hardworking / long-lasting / speed walking

(F). Compound words with adverb (or preposition) and adjective
adverb (or preposition) + adjective
ingrown / over wide / under ripe

(G). Compound words with adverb (or preposition) and noun
adverb (or preposition) + noun
afterlife / afterthought / background / backdate / bypass / downstairs / downfall / forehead / foresight / in-group / in-service / inside / offshore / offspring / off-shoot / online / outlaw / outpatient / over change / overcharge / overripe / overdose / overnight / overweight / underground / underline / underworld / upgrade / upstairs