Form and use plurals of compound nouns
Key Notes :
Understanding Compound Nouns:
- A compound noun is formed when two or more words are combined to create a single noun with a specific meaning.
- Examples: toothbrush, sister-in-law, passerby.
Types of Compound Nouns:
- Closed Form: Two words are joined together without space. E.g., notebook, toothpaste.
- Hyphenated Form: Words are connected with hyphens. E.g., mother-in-law, editor-in-chief.
- Open Form: Separate words that function as a single noun. E.g., post office, attorney general.
Forming Plurals of Closed-Form Compound Nouns:
- Usually, add an -s to the end of the compound noun.
- Example: notebook → notebooks.
Forming Plurals of Hyphenated Compound Nouns:
- Generally, the most significant word (usually the noun) takes the plural form.
- Example: mother-in-law → mothers-in-law (pluralizing mother).
Forming Plurals of Open-Form Compound Nouns:
- The principal word of the compound takes the plural form.
- Example: attorney general → attorneys general (pluralizing attorney).
Irregular Plurals:
- Some compound nouns have irregular plural forms and must be memorized.
- Example: man-of-war → men-of-war.
Compound Nouns with Two Nouns of Equal Importance:
- Both words may be pluralized.
- Example: manservant → menservants.
Special Cases:
- For compound nouns where the base word is a word like passerby, the plural is formed by adding an -s to the first word: passersby.
Practice and Usage:
- Encourage practice through worksheets that focus on identifying the main word in a compound noun.
- Use sentences to show how plural forms change meaning and usage.
Common Mistakes:
- Avoid adding -s to the end of all compound nouns without considering which part should be pluralized.
- Incorrect: mother-in-laws (Correct: mothers-in-law).
Contextual Understanding:
- Emphasize the importance of understanding context to determine whether to pluralize the whole noun or just a part of it.
Let’s practice!✒️
