Compound Words Quiz: Types of Compound Words in Grammar

Study Notes

Compound Words

A compound word is a word that is made up of two or more words that function together as a single unit of meaning.
Compound words can be classified into three types: open, closed, and hyphenated.

Types of Compound Words

Open compound words are written as separate words, with a space between them, and are often nouns or verbs.
Closed compound words are written as a single word, without spaces or hyphens, and can be any part of speech.
Hyphenated compound words are written with a hyphen between the words and are often adjectives or nouns.

Characteristics of Compound Words

Compound words can be any part of speech, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Open compound words are often treated as separate words in a sentence, and phrasal verbs are usually treated as open compound words.
If an open compound word is used as a different part of speech, it may be written as a hyphenated or closed compound word.
Closed compound words are often a single unit of meaning, and their individual words may not be easily recognizable.

Examples of Compound Words

'Grandparent' is an example of a closed compound word, formed by combining 'grand' and 'parent', and means a parent of one's parent.
'Cannot' is an example of a closed compound word.
A portmanteau is a word that is created by combining two or more words and blending their sounds, and differs from a compound word in its formation.

Formation of Compound Words

The three types of compound words are determined by their grammatical structure, spelling, and usage.

Description

Learn about the rules and usage of open compound words, closed compound words, and hyphenated compound words in the English language. Understand how these different types of compound words are formed and when to use them correctly in writing and communication.