Compound Words

The school cafeteria offers many options. Which of the following is the 'odd one out' because it is a different type of compound word?

• high school

• ice cream

• post office

• playground

Answer explanation

'Playground' is a closed compound word, formed by joining two words without a space. The other options, 'high school,' 'ice cream,' and 'post office,' are all open compound words, which have a space between the words.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

Complete the sentence with the correctly formed compound word: The ten-year-old actor gave a _____ performance.

• well received

• well-received

• wellreceived

• well-receive

Answer explanation

When a compound adjective like 'well-received' comes before the noun it describes ('performance'), it must be hyphenated to show the words are acting as a single descriptive unit. 'Well received' would be correct after the noun (e.g., 'The performance was well received').

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

True or False: The compound word 'living room' is an example of a closed compound word.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. 'Living room' is an open compound word because there is a space between the two words. A closed compound word, like 'bedroom,' has no space. Similarly, 'bus stop' is open, while 'busboy' is closed.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

Which pair of words can be combined to form a logical compound noun for 'a place where you play on swings and slides'?

• play + ground

• park + area

• fun + zone

• slide + yard

Answer explanation

The words 'play' and 'ground' combine to form 'playground,' the standard closed compound noun for a recreational area with equipment. The other pairs do not form a standard compound noun for this definition.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

Complete the sentence by selecting the compound noun that names a person by their function: A person who puts out fires is called a _____.

• fire-stopper

• water-sprayer

• firefighter

• fire-manager

Answer explanation

The compound noun 'firefighter' correctly names a person whose function is to fight fires. The other options are not the standard English term for this profession.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

Which sentence uses a compound adjective correctly?

• She wrote a report that was well-researched.

• He is a well known actor in Hollywood.

• The ten-year-old girl won the science fair.

• My dog's fur is light-brown.

Answer explanation

The compound adjective 'ten-year-old' correctly uses hyphens because it comes before the noun 'girl' and acts as a single descriptor. Option A is incorrect because the hyphen is not needed when the modifier comes after the noun. Option B is incorrect because 'well known' should be hyphenated before the noun 'actor'. Option D is incorrect as simple color modifiers are typically not hyphenated.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

True or False: In the phrase "a decision that is life changing," the words 'life changing' should be hyphenated.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. Compound adjectives are typically hyphenated only when they come *before* the noun they modify (e.g., "a life-changing decision"). When they come *after* the noun, they are usually written as separate words. For example, you would write 'a world-famous singer' but 'the singer is world famous'.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• We followed the easy to understand instructions.

• We followed the easy-to-understand instructions.

• We followed the easy-to understand instructions.

• We followed the easy to-understand instructions.

Answer explanation

'Easy-to-understand' acts as a single adjective describing 'instructions.' To link all three words together as one modifier before the noun, they must be connected with hyphens. Option A is incorrect because it lacks hyphens. Options C and D are incorrect because they only partially hyphenate the phrase, breaking the single descriptive idea.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.4D

In the sentence, "The state-of-the-art computer was very expensive," the highlighted words function as a(n) _____.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Answer explanation

The hyphenated compound 'state-of-the-art' describes the noun 'computer,' so it functions as an adjective. It is not a noun (it's not a person/place/thing), a verb (it's not an action), or an adverb (it's not modifying a verb).

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.10

CCSS.RI.5.10

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

Which of the following sentences contains a compound verb?

• The kids played outside all day.

• My mom will proofread my report tonight.

• The sun is a giant ball of gas.

• I have a brand-new bicycle.

Answer explanation

A compound verb can be a single closed word formed from two words (like 'proofread') or a phrasal verb made of a verb and another element (like 'give up'). In this sentence, 'proofread' is a closed compound verb. The other sentences contain simple verbs.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.5A

CCSS.L.1.5B

CCSS.L.K.5A