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'Popcorn' is a compound word.

Compound Words

Compound words join two words to make a new idea. Learn how closed, hyphenated, and open forms change meaning in everyday English.

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Fascinating Fact:

Compound meanings can surprise. A greenhouse grows plants, but a green house is simply a house painted green. One little space changes everything.

In 11 Plus English, you will meet compound words that combine two terms to create a new meaning. They can be written as one word, with a hyphen, or as two words that work together.

Key Terms

Compound word: Two words joined to make a new meaning, like toothpaste or ice cream.
Closed compound: Written as one word, for example notebook and sunflower.
Open or hyphenated compound: Written as two words or with a hyphen, such as ice cream or part-time.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a compound word with examples?

A compound word combines two words to form a new idea. Examples include football, toothpaste, ice cream, and mother-in-law.

When should I use a hyphen in compound words?

Use a hyphen when it helps clarity or before a noun as a single idea, like a well-known author or a part-time job. Numbers like twenty-one use hyphens too.

What is the difference between greenhouse and green house?

Greenhouse is a building for growing plants. Green house means a house that is green in colour. The single space changes the meaning.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
bathrobe, bathtub, bathsoap, bathmat

bathsoap

bathtub

bathrobe

bathmat

It looks like the soap has been left out of the bathroom!

2 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
high school, secondary school, little school, primary school

secondary school

high school

primary school

little school

'little school' could be used to describe ANY of the other schools mentioned in the list. 'primary', 'secondary' and 'high' are specific and can't be used to describe each other. This might be a good way of deciding if a 'word' is an open form compound word or just two words written next to each other

3 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
bookshelf, bookworm, book club, book reader

book reader

book club

bookshelf

bookworm

'reader' is not specific enough to make 'book reader' a compound word

4 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
daydream, day centre, day time, daylight

daylight

day time

day centre

daydream

'day time' should be written as 'daytime'. This is one of the tricky things with compound words: is it two words or one word? D'oh!

5 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
fish hook, fish farm, fish cake, fish finger

fish finger

fish cake

fish hook

fish farm

'fish hook' should be written as 'fishhook'

6 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
grand-uncle, grand-aunt, grand-mother, grandfather

grandfather

grand-uncle

grand-mother

grand-aunt

'grand-mother' should be written as 'grandmother': no hyphen! It appears that this also applies to the following: grandma/pa/son/daughter/nephew/niece. It seems that only grand-aunt and grand-uncle take a hyphen

7 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
greenlight, green belt, green fingers, greenhouse

greenlight

greenhouse

green belt

green fingers

'greenlight' should be written as 'green light'

8 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
heartbreak, heartbeat, heartattack, heart rate

heart rate

heartbreak

heartattack

heartbeat

'heartattack' should be written as 'heart attack'

9 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
rainbow, raindrop, rail way, popcorn

raindrop

rail way

popcorn

rainbow

'rail way' should be written as 'railway'

10 .

Determine which word is NOT an acceptable compound word.
post office, post man, postbox, postcard

post office

postbox

postcard

post man

'post man' should be written as 'postman'

Author: Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)

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