A compound noun is a noun made up of more than one word but acts as a single unit. They are very useful to use in both IELTS speaking and writing as they are a good way of adding variety to your vocabulary.

There are 3 forms of compound nouns

Spaced  - there is a space between the words (football boot)

Hyphenated – there is a hyphen between the words (step-sister)

Closed – there is no space between the words (sunrise)

Activity

Put the 3 forms in to the correct sentence.

Spaced

bus stop    full moon    tennis shoe    apple tree    swimming pool

I always meet my friends at the ______

My children love to climb in the ______

My dog always barks when there is a ______

I take my son to the _______ on Tuesdays

Have you seen my ______ anywhere?

Hyphenated

mother-in-law    baby-sitter    dining-table    water-bottle    paper-clip

I can never find a ______ for my documents when I need one

My ______ comes to lunch every Sunday

We have a very kind and caring ______ for our newborn

When I go running I always take a ______ with me

Please put the plates on the ______

Closed

toolbox   toothbrush    housework    boyfriend    thunderstorm

The weather forecast has predicted a ______

My ______ is very romantic and always buys me flowers

We do the ______ together every Sunday afternoon

I like to buy a new ______ very month

Please put my hammer back in the _______

答案

Spaced

I always meet my friends at the bus stop

My children love to climb in the apple tree

My dog always barks when there is a full moon

I take my son to the swimming pool on Tuesdays

Have you seen my tennis shoe anywhere?

Hyphenated

I can never find a paper clip for my documents when I need one

My mother-in-law comes to lunch every Sunday

We have a very kind and caring baby-sitter for our newborn

When I go running I always take a water-bottle with me

Please put the plates on the dining-table

Closed

The weather forecast has predicted a thunderstorm

My boyfriend is very romantic and always buys me flowers

We do the housework together every Sunday afternoon

I like to buy a new toothbrush very month

Please put my hammer back in the toolbox