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'Ladybird' is an example of a compound word.

Compound Words

Compound words make English fun and creative. This KS2 English quiz helps pupils understand how two smaller words combine to form new meanings.

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Fascinating Fact:

Many English compound words come from Old English, where small words were combined to describe new inventions.

In KS2 English, pupils learn how two words can join to create a new meaning, such as “snowman” or “toothbrush.” Compound words make sentences shorter and ideas easier to express.

Key Terms

Compound Word: Two or more words joined together to form a new word with a unique meaning.
Hyphen: A short line used to link parts of a word or phrase, such as “well-known.”
Root Word: The original, base word from which other words can be formed.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are compound words in KS2 English?

Compound words are made by joining two smaller words together to create a new meaning, for example “football” or “raincoat.”

Do all compound words use a hyphen?

No. Some compound words are written together like “teacup,” some use a hyphen like “mother-in-law,” and others are written separately like “ice cream.”

Why are compound words important to learn?

They help pupils understand how English grows and changes by combining existing words to describe new things or ideas more clearly.

Try These Related Quizzes

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1 .

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
On our science trip, we saw butterflies, wasps, ants and mosquitoes.

science

butterflies

wasps

mosquitoes

Butterfly = butter + fly.

2 .

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
They were unable to build a snowman because there wasn't enough snow.

unable

build

snowman

enough

Snowman = snow + man.

3 .

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
Billy couldn't find room in the suitcase for his football.

couldn't, room

couldn't, suitcase

room, football

suitcase, football

Suitcase = suit + case / football = foot + ball.

4 .

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
The headteacher raised her eyebrow when we tried to explain our practical joke.

headteacher, eyebrow

raised, eyebrow

tried, practical

explain, joke

Headteacher = head + teacher / eyebrow = eye + brow.

5 .

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
In the afternoon, the grass was so warm and dry that the children decided to go barefoot.

afternoon, grass

afternoon, barefoot

children, decided

decided, barefoot

Afternoon = after + noon / barefoot = bare + foot.

6 .

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
My auntie looked in her handbag for a tissue.

auntie

looked

handbag

tissue

Handbag = hand + bag.

7 .

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
She gave a gentle stir with the teaspoon and then replaced the lid on the teapot.

gentle, teaspoon

teaspoon, replaced

teaspoon, teapot

replaced, teapot

Teaspoon = tea + spoon / teapot = tea + pot.

8 .

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
I always thought it was a mistake to try to grow strawberries inside the fridge.

mistake, strawberries

mistake, fridge

strawberries, inside

inside, fridge

Strawberries = straw + berries / inside = in + side ('in-' can also be a prefix, as in 'inconsiderate', but here it has the meaning of the whole word 'in').

9 .

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
The waves crashed against the base of the ancient lighthouse.