COMPOUND NOUNS ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE PRE INTERMEDIATE

 

ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE PRE INTERMEDIATE UNIT 73 COMPOUND NOUNS

 

A Formation We form compound nouns by putting two words together (or three) to create a new idea. Compound nouns are very common in English. Ice hockey is a game of hockey played on ice. Public transport is transport that can be used by the public. A campsite is a site for camping. [a place used for a special purpose] A babysitter is someone who looks after young children when their parents go out. Income tax is money you pay to the government out of your income [the total amount of money you receive every year from your work and other places]. Your mother tongue is the first language you learn as a child. A travel agent is someone whose job is to make travel arrangements for you. A film-maker is someone who makes films for the cinema or television. A full stop is a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. A haircut is the act of cutting someone’s hair, e.g. That boy needs a haircut. B One word or two? Some compound nouns are written as one word, e.g. wheelchair; a few are written with a hyphen, e.g. T-shirt; many are written as two words, e.g. credit card, bus stop. Use a dictionary to check if necessary C Pronunciation The main stress is usually on the first part, e.g. 'haircut or 'income tax, but sometimes it is on the second part, e.g. public 'transport, full 'stop. Use a dictionary to check if necessary. D Forming new compounds One part of a compound often forms the basis for a number of compound nouns. airport e.g. Heathrow airline e.g. Lufthansa, KLM aircraft e.g. Airbus A380 bus driver ID card (identity card) bus stop credit card bus station birthday card   EXERCISES 73.1 Complete the circles with compound nouns from the opposite page. 73.2 Complete the sentences. 1 I got some money from the ______cashpoint________. 2 I booked our holiday through a ________________. 3 We stayed on a very nice ________________, but unfortunately our tent wasn’t really big enough. 4 He can’t walk at all now, so he has to use a ________________to move around. 5 I sent her a ________________but she never received it; it must have got lost in the post. 6 Liz and Mark wanted to go out, but they couldn’t find a ________________for the children. 7 When I’m driving I always wear if ________________it’s very bright and sunny. 8 Most people have to pay ________________ on their salary; the more you earn, the more you pay. 9 I washed my hair, then discovered that the ________________wasn’t working. 73.3 Which words are being defined? 1 A substance that you use to clean your teeth. ______toothpaste_______ 2 A piece of furniture for keeping clothes in. _______________________ 3 Someone who plays music on the radio or at discos. _______________________ 4 A card with your name, photograph and information to prove who you are. _______________________ 5 The first language you learn as a child. _______________________ 6 A game played on ice using sticks. _______________________ 7 A punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. _______________________ 8 A card you use to pay for things. _______________________ 73.4 Make new compounds using one part of the compounds below. Answers for 1–6 are on the opposite page, answers for 7–12 are in other parts of the book.

ANSWER KEY