Noun with Noun Definition, Examples, Exercise, and Worksheet

Hello learners! Today we are going to learn an exciting topic of English grammar—compound nouns which is also known as Noun with Noun. We will see how to use nouns with nouns, with their definition and examples. Here we have also given you an exercise to practice with a worksheet having several questions to test your knowledge. Let’s explore the compound nouns, what they are, how they are formed, and how they can improve your English skills.

What is a Noun with Noun?

A noun with noun is also known as a compound noun. A compound noun is a noun made up of two or more words that work together to name a person, place, thing, or idea. The first part of the compound tells us what kind of object or person it is, or what its purpose is, and the second part usually identifies the object or person.

For example:

• Tooth (body part) + paste (substance) = toothpaste (a substance used to clean teeth)
• Basket (container) + ball (object) = basketball (a sport played with a ball and hoop)

Writing Compund Noun

Compound nouns can be categorized based on how they are written:

Closed Compound Nouns:

These are written as single words with no spaces or hyphens.

Examples:

• Toothbrush
• Notebook
• Bedroom

Open Compound Noun:

These are written as two separate words, but together they form a single meaning.

Examples:

• High school
• Ice cream
• Living room

Hyphenated Compound Noun:

These use a hyphen to connect the words, often to avoid confusion or to clarify meaning.

Examples:

• Brother-in-law
• Editor-in-chief
• Six-pack

Examples of Compound Nouns

Here are some common compound nouns and how they are used in sentences:

1. Toothbrush: I forgot my toothbrush while packing for the trip.
2. Laptop: She uses her laptop to write articles.
3. Waterfall: The hike ended at a beautiful waterfall.
4. Football: The kids were playing football in the park.
5. Raincoat: Don’t forget your raincoat; it’s going to rain today.

How to Use a Noun with Noun in Sentences

When using a noun with nouns, it is important to know their correct form, whether they are closed, open, or hyphenated. Understanding the correct spelling and format helps you to avoid confusion.

Pluralizing Compound Nouns:

To make most compound nouns plural, you add -s to the main noun in the compound.

Example:
Bedroom becomes bedrooms
Toothbrush becomes toothbrushes

Examples in Sentences:

1. The hotel has several spacious bedrooms available for guests.
2. We bought new toothbrushes for everyone in the family.
3. The school is building new classrooms to accommodate more students.
4. I invited both my sisters-in-law to the family reunion.
5. The firemen bravely fought the fire and saved the building.

More Examples of Compound Nouns in Sentences

1. Toothpaste: I need to buy some toothpaste before we go on the trip.
2. Bookstore: We spent the afternoon browsing books at the bookstore.
3. Firetruck: The loud siren of the firetruck woke everyone in the neighborhood.
4. Airport: We arrived at the airport two hours before our flight.
5. Football: The kids were excited to play football in the park.
6. Newspaper: He reads the newspaper every morning with his coffee.
7. Basketball: They played a game of basketball on the school court.
8. Birthday: We celebrated his 10th birthday with a big party.
9. Cupcake: She baked delicious cupcakes for the charity event.
10. Waterfall: We hiked for hours to reach the beautiful waterfall in the mountains.

Compound Nouns | Exercise

Question: Combine these nouns to form compound nouns.

1. Sun + ___________ (a type of eyewear)
2. Book + ___________ (a place where books are kept)
3. Snow + ___________ (a winter sport)
4. Fire + ___________ (a place to burn wood in a house)
5. Class + ___________ (a place where students learn)

Answers:

1. Sunglasses
2. Bookstore
3. Snowboard
4. Fireplace
5. Classroom

Compound Nouns | Worksheet

Question 1: Read the following sentences and underline the compound nouns.

1. The children played basketball in the park.
2. She bought a new toothbrush from the store.
3. The fireman rescued the cat from the tree.
4. My brother-in-law is visiting us this weekend.
5. The school library has many interesting books.

Question 2: Complete the sentences with suitable compound nouns from the box below.

(bookshelf, hairbrush, classroom, newspaper, toothpaste)

1. I need to buy a new ________ because mine is old and worn out.
2. The students were excited to enter their new ________ for the first time.
3. She keeps all her favorite novels on the ________.
4. He reads the ________ every morning to stay updated on current events.
5. Don’t forget to pack the _______ for our trip.

Question 3: Match the first part of the compound noun with the correct second part.

1. Snow
   1. truck
   2. ball
   3. man
2. Tooth
   1. brush
   2. paste
   3. fairy
3. Fire
   1. place
   2. tree
   3. work
4. Basket
   1. case
   2. ball
   3. school
5. Cup
   1. cake
   2. board
   3. time

Question 4: Combine the following pairs of nouns to create compound nouns and use them in sentences.

1. (sun, flower)
   Compound Noun: ____________________
   Sentence: ________________________________________
2. (ice, cream)
   Compound Noun: ____________________
   Sentence: ________________________________________
3. (water, bottle)
   Compound Noun: ____________________
   Sentence: ________________________________________
4. (class, room)
   Compound Noun: ____________________
   Sentence: ________________________________________
5. (foot, ball)
   Compound Noun: ____________________
   Sentence: ________________________________________

Question 5: Write the plural form of the following compound nouns.

1. Firefighter → ______________________
2. Toothbrush → ______________________
3. Sister-in-law → ______________________
4. Basketball → ______________________
5. Notebook → ______________________

Question 6: Match the nouns from Column A with the correct nouns in Column B to form a compound noun.

Question 7: Unscramble the following letters to form a proper compound noun, then use the noun in a sentence.

1. s e a d i r o t → __________________
   Sentence: _____________________________________
2. w t o o h p t s a e → __________________
   Sentence: _____________________________________
3. r e f r i c e p a l → __________________
   Sentence: _____________________________________
4. s k t o o n e b → __________________
   Sentence: _____________________________________
5. r o p i a t r → __________________
   Sentence: _____________________________________

Question 8: Fill in the blanks with the correct word to form a compound noun.

1. Police ________
2. Snow ________
3. Book ________
4. Post ________
5. Table ________
6. Tea ________
7. Bedroom ________
8. Water ________
9. Traffic ________
10. Sun ________

Question 9: Select the correct compound noun from the options to complete each sentence.

He takes a shower in the ________ every morning.

1. bathroom
2. ballpark
3. playground

Question 10: Select the correct compound noun from the options to complete each sentence.

We packed sandwiches for the ________.

1. sunflower
2. fireman
3. picnic

Also Read:

• Positive and Negative Noun to Describe a Person
• What Are the Examples of Noun For Class 9
• Noun for Class 9