Compound Words

A compound word is made up of two or more smaller words that are combined to create a new word with its own meaning. Understanding compound words is important for building vocabulary and improving reading and writing skills.

Formation of Compound Words

Compound words can be formed in three different ways:

1. Open Compound Words: These are made up of two separate words, such as "ice cream" or "school bus".
2. Hyphenated Compound Words: These are formed by connecting two words with a hyphen, such as "mother-in-law" or "check-in".
3. Closed Compound Words: These are written as one word without any spaces or hyphens, such as "basketball" or "sunshine".

Examples of Compound Words

Here are some common examples of compound words:

• bedroom
• rainbow
• firefly
• toothbrush
• birthday

Study Guide

Here are a few tips to help you understand and use compound words:

1. Recognize the Parts: Break down compound words into their individual parts to understand their meanings. For example, "butterfly" is made up of "butter" and "fly".
2. Practice Reading: Look for compound words in the books you read to become familiar with their use in context.
3. Make Connections: Think about how the meanings of the smaller words contribute to the meaning of the compound word. For example, "sun" and "shine" in "sunshine" both contribute to the idea of a bright, sunny day.
4. Use in Writing: Try using compound words in your own writing to improve your vocabulary and express ideas more clearly.

With practice and understanding, you can become proficient at recognizing and using compound words effectively in your reading and writing!