A compound word is made of two or more words that work as one (sun + flower = sunflower). It can be closed (one word: notebook), open (two words: bus stop) or hyphenated (mother-in-law). To make a compound plural, add -s to the main noun: bus stops, mothers-in-law. A noun that describes another noun stays singular (a five-year plan). The answer key is at the end.
Learn the rules first: Compound Nouns and Noun Adjuncts Explained
Practise online, with instant answers: Compounding and Conversion practice test (Basic)
Compound Words Worksheet with Answers
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A. Join the words
Join the two words to make one closed compound word.
- sun + flower
- rain + bow
- butter + fly
- cup + board
- pass + port
- bath + room
- hand + bag
- home + work
- air + port
- foot + ball
B. Open, closed or hyphenated?
Write O if the compound is written as two words, C if it is one word, and H if it has a hyphen.
- mother-in-law
- bus stop
- bookshelf
- ice cream
- sister-in-law
- toothpaste
- post office
- daughter-in-law
C. Make the plural
Write the plural of each compound.
- brother-in-law
- passer-by
- bus stop
- toothbrush
- swimming pool
D. Choose the correct form
Circle the correct word in brackets.
- We made a five-(year / years) plan.
- Meena works in a (shoe / shoes) shop.
- He gave me a ten-(rupee / rupees) note.
- It was a two-(hour / hours) journey to Pune.
- We bought fruit at the (vegetable / vegetables) market.
Answer Key
A. Join the words
- sunflower
- rainbow
- butterfly
- cupboard
- passport
- bathroom
- handbag
- homework
- airport
- football
B. Open, closed or hyphenated?
- H
- O
- C
- O
- H
- C
- O
- H
C. Make the plural
- brothers-in-law
- passers-by
- bus stops
- toothbrushes
- swimming pools
D. Choose the correct form
- year
- shoe
- rupee
- hour
- vegetable