Form and use plurals of compound nouns
Key Notes:
🔹 What are Compound Nouns?
👉 A compound noun is made up of two or more words that together act as a single noun.
Examples: 🚌 school bus, 🖊️ mother-in-law, 🏃 runner-up
🔹 Forming Plurals of Compound Nouns
1️⃣ Add -s to the main word (the most important part):
- brother-in-law 👉 brothers-in-law 👨👨👦
- passer-by 👉 passers-by 🚶
2️⃣ Add -s to the last word (if it’s the main part):
- school bus 👉 school buses 🚌
- textbook 👉 textbooks 📚
3️⃣ If the compound is written as one word:
- toothbrush 👉 toothbrushes 🪥
- sunflower 👉 sunflowers 🌻
4️⃣ If the compound noun has no main word (or is hard to identify):
- forget-me-not 👉 forget-me-nots 🌸
- merry-go-round 👉 merry-go-rounds 🎠
🔹 Examples 🌈
✅ daughter-in-law 👉 daughters-in-law 👩👧
✅ man-of-war 👉 men-of-war ⚓
✅ keyboard 👉 keyboards ⌨️
✅ washing machine 👉 washing machines 🧺
🔹 Tips 📝
✨ Always check which word carries the main meaning.
✨ Add -s/-es only to the important part of the compound.
✨ Memorize irregular ones (man-of-war → men-of-war).
🎯 Quick Practice
👉 Turn these into plurals:
- passer-by 🚶
- mother-in-law 👩👩👦
- textbook 📚
- son-in-law 👨👩👦
- merry-go-round 🎠
Let’s practice!✒️
