How to Form Compound Words? | Language Lesson

This language lesson is designed for 6 to 12-year-old children. It helps the child learn about forming compound words using word cards.

In our previous lesson, we discussed what compound words are and the different types of compound words. In this video, we will discuss how compound words are formed.

Compound Words Definition

Compound words are formed by combining two or more root words with a totally different meaning than the root words. For example, a snowball is formed by combining two words snow and ball.

As mentioned in our previous video lesson, Compound words can be a noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb, or even a preposition. For example: within, outside, and without. Let us discuss this in detail.

Forming Compound Words with Examples

In this video, we will learn how to make compound words by hit and trial. For example,

Any + One = Anyone. These compound words are formed by using different combinations of nouns, verbs, adjectives and other parts of speech.

Let us now look at some more combinations of parts of speech that form compound words.

Noun + Noun

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining two root nouns.

Bedroom
Music band
Water tank
Starfish
Sunflower
Boyfriend
Policeman
Football
Raindrop

Noun + Verb

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a noun root word and a verb root word.

Firefly
Butterfly
Photoshoot
Haircut
Snowfall

Verb + Noun

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a verb root word and a noun root word.

Living room
Notebook
fast track

Verb + Preposition

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a verb root word and a preposition root word.

Shut Up
Check-in
Check-out
Lookout
Breakup
Dine in

Preposition + Verb

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a preposition root word and a verb root word.

Intake
Outdo
Input
Output
Overthrow
Understand
Overlay

Noun + Adjective

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a noun root word and an adjective root word.

Housefull
Spoonful
Wireless
Lifelong
Snow white
Sky blue
Worldwide

Adjective + Noun

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining an adjective root word and a noun root word.

Full time
Superhero
Long-term
Last minute

Gerund + Noun

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a gerund root word and a noun root word.

Washing machine
Dining room
Swimming pool
Driving license
Melting point
Living room
Working day

Noun + Gerund

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a noun root word and a gerund root word.

Sightseeing
Mind-blowing
Nail-biting
Brainstorming
Time-consuming
Bird watching

Preposition + Noun

Here is a list of compound words formed by combining a preposition and a noun.

Underworld
Overview
Undergraduate
Background
Inward
Underwater
Upstairs

This video lesson uses picture cards to help the child form new compound words. It also helps the child to practice breaking the compound word into its root words.

Invite the child to make new compound words with the common objects around them as shown in the video and help them enhance their vocabulary.

Related Compound Words Resources:

For more language resources, click here.

Video Created by: Justine McNeilly