Compound Nouns - ESL worksheet by jhansi - Free Printable

Let's solve this Compound Nouns worksheet step by step.

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Part 1: Underline the compound nouns

We need to underline the compound nouns in each sentence. A compound noun is a noun made of two or more words that together form a single meaning. They can be written as one word, two separate words, or with a hyphen.

Let’s go through each sentence:

1. The mailman brings us the mail.
→ *mailman*, *mail* (both are compound? Let's check)
- "Mailman" = compound noun (mail + man) ✔
- "Mail" alone is not a compound noun.
➤ Underline: mailman

2. I like to have an egg in my breakfast daily.
→ "breakfast" is not a compound noun. "Egg" isn't either.
➤ No compound noun here.

3. We see the rainbow in the sky.
→ "rainbow" = rain + bow → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: rainbow

4. Leave the baby with the babysitter.
→ "babysitter" = baby + sitter → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: babysitter

5. Mom is suffering from headache.
→ "headache" = head + ache → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: headache

6. Teacher gave us homework to do in the holidays.
→ "homework" = home + work → compound noun ✔
→ "holidays" = holiday (plural), but "holiday" itself is not compound.
➤ Underline: homework

7. Let us go for an ice-cream in the evening.
→ "ice-cream" = ice + cream → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: ice-cream

8. We see many windmills in Denmark.
→ "windmill" = wind + mill → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: windmills

9. Sunrise is a beautiful view to see in the morning.
→ "sunrise" = sun + rise → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: sunrise

10. Have you read the newspaper today?
→ "newspaper" = news + paper → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: newspaper

11. Ladybug has black spots on the body.
→ "ladybug" = lady + bug → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: ladybug

12. We clean our plates in the dishwasher.
→ "dishwasher" = dish + washer → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: dishwasher

13. We use staircase to go to my bedroom in the upstairs.
→ "staircase" = stair + case → compound noun ✔
→ "upstairs" = up + stairs → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: staircase, upstairs

14. Clean your teeth with a good toothpaste.
→ "toothpaste" = tooth + paste → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: toothpaste

15. We see butterflies in the spring season.
→ "butterflies" = butterfly (plural), and "butterfly" = butter + fly → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: butterflies

16. My birthday is on 16th February.
→ "birthday" = birth + day → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: birthday

17. Lighthouse helps the ships to reach the shore.
→ "lighthouse" = light + house → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: lighthouse

18. We use raincoat during the rainy season.
→ "raincoat" = rain + coat → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: raincoat

19. I love to visit my grandmother during my holidays.
→ "grandmother" = grand + mother → compound noun ✔
→ "holidays" = not a compound noun (just plural of holiday)
➤ Underline: grandmother

20. Get the matchbox to lit the candle.
→ "matchbox" = match + box → compound noun ✔
➤ Underline: matchbox

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✔ Summary: Compound Nouns to underline

| Sentence | Compound Noun(s) |
|--------|------------------|
| 1 | mailman |
| 2 | none |
| 3 | rainbow |
| 4 | babysitter |
| 5 | headache |
| 6 | homework |
| 7 | ice-cream |
| 8 | windmills |
| 9 | sunrise |
| 10 | newspaper |
| 11 | ladybug |
| 12 | dishwasher |
| 13 | staircase, upstairs |
| 14 | toothpaste |
| 15 | butterflies |
| 16 | birthday |
| 17 | lighthouse |
| 18 | raincoat |
| 19 | grandmother |
| 20 | matchbox |

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Part 2: Fill in the blanks using compound nouns

We’re given a list of words to choose from:

> timetable, postbox, teapot, racecar, weekend, watermelon, suitcase, snowman, bookshop, raincoat, policeman, fishbowl

Now fill in the blanks:

1. We follow the timetable in the class
2. We post our letters in the postbox
3. I like to wear my raincoat in the rain
4. We keep tea in a teapot
5. The policeman helps us to cross the road
6. My brother loves to drive a racecar
7. Let us go for a picnic in the weekend
8. My favorite fruit is watermelon
9. My dad helped me to carry my suitcase
10. We keep fish in a fishbowl
11. We build snowman in snow time
12. We buy our books in a bookshop

✔ All answers match the provided word bank.

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✔ Final Answer Key

#### Part 1: Underline the compound nouns
(As listed above — underlined in original sentences)

#### Part 2: Fill in the blanks

1. timetable
2. postbox
3. raincoat
4. teapot
5. policeman
6. racecar
7. weekend
8. watermelon
9. suitcase
10. fishbowl
11. snowman
12. bookshop

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📝 Explanation

- Compound nouns are formed when two or more words combine to make a new meaning.
- They can be:
- Closed: e.g., *notebook*
- Hyphenated: e.g., *ice-cream*
- Open: e.g., *post office* (though not in this list)
- In this exercise, we identified compound nouns based on their structure and meaning.
- For the fill-in-the-blank section, we matched the correct compound noun from the word bank to complete each sentence logically.

Let me know if you'd like this turned into a printable answer sheet!