NOUNS AND COMPOUND NOUNS

A noun is a word used as the name of a person, place or thing and the different kinds are Proper Noun, Common Noun, Collective Noun and an Abstract Noun. Two nouns or one noun and any other parts of speech combine together to form  "Compound Nouns". They are usualy also called "Nominal Compounds".

Conditio "sine qua non" for adjectives in front of a compound

"WITHOUT A HYPHEN.. An adjective in front of a "compound word" qualifies "ALWAYS" the second member of the compound.."

Let’s explore these examples that beautifully illustrate how adjectives play a crucial role in qualifying compound words.:

1. Digital image processing: Here, the adjective “Digital” indeed modifies the second part of the compound noun “processing.” It refers to the manipulation of images signal using a digital computer with various algorithms and techniques.

2. Analog image processing: Similarly, “Analog” modifies “processing.” In this case, it pertains to the manipulation of images (such as photographs or film) using traditional analogic methods.

3. Digital signal processing: Once again, “Digital” qualifies “processing.” This field involves analyzing, modifying, or enhancing signals (such as audio, video, or sensor data converted to stored bits) using digital techniques.

4. Analog signal processing: Here, “Analog” modifies “processing.” It relates to the manipulation of continuous signals (e.g., electrical voltage) using analog circuits or methods.

5. Digital signal processor: In this case, “Digital” modifies “processor.” A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized digital microprocessor designed for efficient signal processing tasks.

6. Analog signal processor: Finally, “Analog” modifies “processor.” An analog signal processor would handle continuous signals using analog components.

 

Teaching Pronunciation p195: A COURSE BOOK AND REFERENCE GUIDE - Donna Brinton, Marianne Celce-Murcia, Janet M. Goodwin - 2010- 576pages

Teaching Pronunciation p145: A Reference for Teachers of English to Speakers of ... - Celce-Murcia, Marianne Celce-Murcia, Donna M. Brinton, Janet M. Goodwin - 1996 - 441pages

The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher's Course - Marianne Celce-Murcia, Diane Larsen-Freeman, Howard Alan Williams - 1983 - Google Books

An Analytical Dictionary of the English Language in which the words are ... - David BOOTH (Author of the Analytical Dictionary.) - 1830 - Google Books


Nominal Compounds or Compound Nouns are formed by combining or joining two main words.

The combination can occur as:

Noun + Noun – steam-engine, hydrogen bomb, armchair, honey bee

Adjective + Noun – mild steel, darkroom, five-rupee note, sweetheart

Noun + Verb – milk shake, headache, rainfall, snakebite, madman

Verb + Noun – run way, breakfast, flashlight, watchdog, cutthroat

Gerund + Noun – rocking chair, dining room, swimming pool

Noun + Gerund – glass painting, day-dreaming, rope-dancing

Adverb + Noun – underemployment, overcoat, afternoon

Adverb/preposition + Verb – outcome, outlet, off-shoot, offspring

Verb + Adverb/preposition – farewell, breakdown, send-off

The combination can be between two parts of speech also:

Noun + Adjective – seasick, snow-white, tax-free, watertight, sky blue

 

Adjective + Adjective – red-hot

Noun + Participle – fact-finding, heartbreaking, home-made, town-bred

Adjective + Participle – high-sounding, easygoing, full-grown, ready-made

Adverb + Participle – downtrodden, outspoken, never-ending, everlasting

Nominal Compounds are useful in avoiding lengthy sentences, avoiding waste of time. They serve to promote easy readability, brevity and clarity in technical writing. For e.g.: An engine which runs on steam be easily written as a steam-engine.

Examples for expanding the Compound Nouns:

1. Watchdog – A dog which watches
2. Rocking-chair – A chair that rocks
3. Glass painting – A painting which is done on glass
4. Runway – A way which is used for taking off/landing of the flights
5. Dining-room – A room used for dining
6. Flashlight – A light which flashes

Expanded Compound Nouns:

1. Air supply – supply of air
2. Animal behaviour – the behaviour of an animal
3. Arithmetic unit – a unit in which arithmetic is performed
4. Ball pen – a pen with a tiny ball as its writing point
5. Battery car – a car which works on battery
6. Battery valve – a valve of a battery
7. Blast furnace – furnace of the type which works by blast of preheated air
8. Butterfly valve – a valve which is in the shape of a butterfly
9. Butt weld – weld of the type called “butt”
10. Calculation speed – a speed with which calculations are done
11. Calculator memory – memory of a calculator
12. Cable television – television signals which is transmitted through cables
13. Carbon dioxide – dioxide of carbon
14. Cassette tape – a tape of a cassette
15. Coal gas – gas obtained from coal
16. Colour television – a television which displays pictures in colour
17. Communication satellite – a satellite used for communication
18. Computer technology – technology used in computers
19. Concrete structure – a structure of concrete
20. Condenser extractor pump – a pump for extracting from condenser
21. Control centre- a centre which controls
22. Control tower – a tower that controls
23. Cooling tower – a tower that cools
24. Copper wire – wire that made of copper
25. Cylinder head design- design of the head of a cylinder
26. Data input – input of data
27. Diesel engine- an engine that runs on diesel
28. Dish antenna- antenna in the shape of a dish
29. Disk drive – a drive of a disc
30. Energy source – source of energy
31. Fire fly – fly that emits flickering light
32. Friction losses – losses caused by friction
33. Gas jar – a jar containing gas
34. Gear mechanism – mechanism for operating the gear
35. Grease gun – a gun used for ejecting grease
36. Heat transfer – transfer of heat
37. Heat treatment – treatment with heat
38. Hot water – water which is hot
39. Item code – the code number of an item
40. Jet engine- an engine propelled by jet
41. Keyboard – a board which is having keys for operation
42. Laser printer – a printer that uses laser technology
43. Letter press – method of printing using raised types
44. Log tables – tables in which ready arithmetic data are available
45. Lock nut – a nut that resists loosening under vibration
46. Machine language- the language which is used for operating a machine
47. Machine tools- tools for cutting or shaping materials
48. Mains electricity – electricity which comes from the mains
49. Mass production – production in mass
50. Media support – support by media
51. Mercury thermometer – a thermometer which has mercury
52. Metal tubes- tubes made of metal
53. Mild steel – Steel that is mild in nature
54. Nickel alloy- alloy containing nickel
55. Noise pollution – pollution caused by noise
56. Pedal power – power derived from a pedal device
57. Personal computer – a computer used for personal purposes
58. Picture tube – a tube of a television designed for the reproduction of pictures
59. Power cable – a cable conducting power
60. Power source – source of power
61. Radio waves- waves with electro-magnetic frequency
62. Research laboratory – a laboratory for research
63. Rice husk – husk from rice
64. Road engine – an engine that runs on the road
65. Roller mill – mill for rolling
66. Silver extraction – extraction of silver
67. Soil laboratory – a laboratory for testing soil
68. Solar cooker –a cooker using solar energy
69. Space travel – travel to space
70. Spark plug – plug that emits spark
71. Steel bar – a bar made of steel
72. Stop valve – a valve made to stop the passage
73. Temperature drop – drop in temperature
74. Turret lathe – a lathe having a turret
75. Underground cable – a cable that is laid underground
76. Video screen – the screen on which video is displayed
77. Water heater – a heater used to heat water
78. Water tube – a tube containing water

 

EXERCISE:

Expand the following Compound Nouns:

1. Air supply
2. Battery car
3. Blast furnace
4. Butterfly valve
5. Cable television
6. Calculation speed
7. Car battery
8. Color television
9. Communication satellite
10. Computer aided learning
11. Computer design
12. Computer diagnosis
13. Concrete structure
14. Condenser extractor pump
15. Control centre
16. Control tower
17. Copper wire
18. Cylinder head
19. Data processing module
20. Design engineer
21. Disc drive
22. Dish antenna
23. Ferrous oxide-coated tape
24. Fire-tube boiler inspection door
25. Flood damage