Compound Words

Complete the sentence: My family stores our extra blankets in a large _______ in the hallway.

• cedar chest

• cedar-chest

• cedarchest

• chest of cedar

Answer explanation

This is correct because 'cedar chest' is an open compound noun, meaning the two words are used together but spelled separately. The other options represent incorrect closed or hyphenated forms for this specific noun.

Which of the following phrases contains a basic compound adjective?

• a very tall building

• a bright, shiny car

• a fast-paced video game

• a dog running quickly

Answer explanation

'Fast-paced' is a compound adjective modifying 'video game'. The words 'fast' and 'paced' work together as a single idea. 'Very tall' is an adverb-adjective pair, and 'bright, shiny' are coordinate adjectives.

True or False: A compound verb, like 'give up' or 'break down,' is made of more than one word but functions as a single verb with a specific meaning.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is true. Compound verbs (or phrasal verbs) combine a verb with another word, often a preposition or adverb, to create a new meaning different from the individual words.

Complete the sentence: After school, we all went to my house to do our _______.

• home work

• home-work

• homework

• work for home

Answer explanation

'Homework' is a closed compound noun, meaning the two words 'home' and 'work' have merged into a single word. The other forms are incorrect.

Which sentence correctly uses a hyphen to form a compound adjective before a noun?

• She is a well known singer in our town.

• The story was about a ten year old boy.

• I read a thought-provoking article about climate change.

• He wore a shirt that was light-blue.

Answer explanation

A hyphen is used to join words that form a single adjective before a noun. 'Thought-provoking' modifies 'article'. 'Well known' and 'ten year old' should be hyphenated before a noun, and 'light-blue' should not be hyphenated after the noun.

Complete the sentence pair: The hike is _______ long. It is a _______ hike.

• five-miles, five mile

• five miles, five-mile

• five miles, five miles

• five-miles, five-mile

Answer explanation

When a number and unit of measurement describe a noun's length, it is not hyphenated. When that same phrase acts as an adjective before a noun (a five-mile hike), it is hyphenated and the unit is singular.

True or False: In the sentence 'The movie was thought provoking,' the words 'thought provoking' should be hyphenated.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. Compound adjectives are typically not hyphenated when they come after the noun they modify (in the predicate position). 'The movie was thought provoking' is correct.

In the sentence, 'My car might break down on this long trip,' what does the compound verb 'break down' mean?

• to smash into pieces

• to stop functioning

• to become very sad

• to explain in detail

Answer explanation

In the context of machinery like a car, the compound verb 'break down' means to suddenly stop working. The other options are possible meanings in different contexts but not here.

Complete the sentence: The new headphones have a _______ feature that is really impressive.

• canceling-noise

• noise canceling

• noise-canceling

• noise, canceling

Answer explanation

This is a participle-based compound adjective ('canceling') modifying 'feature'. It should be hyphenated when it appears before the noun. 'Noise canceling' would be used after the noun (e.g., 'The feature is noise canceling').

The term 'ice cream' is an example of which type of compound word?

• A closed compound noun

• An open compound noun

• A hyphenated compound noun

• A compound verb

Answer explanation

'Ice cream' is a single noun made of two separate words, which is the definition of an open compound noun. 'Toothbrush' is closed, and 'mother-in-law' is hyphenated.