Compound Words in English Grammar | Class 10 Maharashtra Board – Rules & Examples
Compound Words in English Grammar – Class 10 Maharashtra Board
Compound Words are an important part of English Grammar and Language Study. They are easy to learn if students understand how two or more words combine to form a new word or expression.
In this article, we will learn the meaning, types, rules, examples, identification tricks, and practice questions on Compound Words.
What is a Compound Word?
A compound word is a word or expression formed by joining two or more words to create a new word or meaning.
Simple Formula:
Word + Word = Compound Word
Examples:
- tooth + brush = toothbrush
- foot + ball = football
- class + room = classroom
- rain + bow = rainbow
- sun + flower = sunflower
- note + book = notebook
The two words have their own meanings, but when they are combined, they form a word with a specific meaning.
Example:
tooth + brush = toothbrush
- tooth = a part of the mouth
- brush = an object used for cleaning
- toothbrush = a brush used to clean teeth
Therefore, toothbrush is a compound word.
Easy Trick to Identify Compound Words ⭐
Students can remember this simple rule:
Two or more words combine to give a new meaning = Compound Word
For example:
rain + bow = rainbow
Rain and bow are separate words, but rainbow is a new word.
Types of Compound Words
Compound words are commonly divided into three types according to how they are written.
1. Closed Compound Words
In closed compound words, two words are joined together without a space or hyphen.
Examples:
| Word 1 | Word 2 | Compound Word |
|---|---|---|
| tooth | brush | toothbrush |
| foot | ball | football |
| class | room | classroom |
| sun | flower | sunflower |
| note | book | notebook |
| black | board | blackboard |
| bed | room | bedroom |
| rain | bow | rainbow |
| news | paper | newspaper |
| hair | cut | haircut |
| school | bag | schoolbag |
| book | shop | bookshop |
| tea | cup | teacup |
| door | bell | doorbell |
| play | ground | playground |
| bedroom | - | bedroom |
| class | mate | classmate |
| home | work | homework |
| week | end | weekend |
| sun | light | sunlight |
Sentences:
- I bought a new schoolbag.
- The students are in the classroom.
- My bedroom is clean.
- We finished our homework.
- The sunlight entered the room.
2. Open Compound Words
In open compound words, the words are written separately, but together they form a single idea or meaning.
Examples:
- post office
- school bus
- swimming pool
- ice cream
- railway station
- police station
- living room
- dining room
- high school
- bus stop
- coffee shop
- traffic light
- football match
- washing machine
- mobile phone
Sentences:
- I went to the post office.
- The children are waiting for the school bus.
- We went to the swimming pool.
- I like ice cream.
- The train arrived at the railway station.
- Please wait at the bus stop.
- The traffic light is red.
- She bought a new mobile phone.
3. Hyphenated Compound Words
In hyphenated compound words, the words are joined using a hyphen (-).
Examples:
- mother-in-law
- father-in-law
- well-known
- part-time
- full-time
- good-looking
- hard-working
- self-confidence
- self-control
- up-to-date
- twenty-five
- check-in
- runner-up
- long-term
- short-term
Sentences:
- She is a hard-working student.
- He has a part-time job.
- She is a well-known writer.
- We need an up-to-date report.
- He has great self-confidence.
- My mother-in-law lives in Pune.
Compound Words with Common Words
Learning common combinations makes Compound Words much easier.
Compound Words with "Book"
- book + shop = bookshop
- note + book = notebook
- text + book = textbook
- story + book = storybook
- copy + book = copybook
- scrap + book = scrapbook
- work + book = workbook
- pocket + book = pocketbook
Examples:
- I bought a new textbook.
- She wrote the answer in her notebook.
- This is an interesting storybook.
Compound Words with "Room"
- class + room = classroom
- bed + room = bedroom
- bath + room = bathroom
- living + room = living room
- dining + room = dining room
- news + room = newsroom
- play + room = playroom
Examples:
- The students entered the classroom.
- My bedroom is small.
- The children are playing in the playroom.
Compound Words with "Board"
- black + board = blackboard
- notice + board = noticeboard
- key + board = keyboard
- board + room = boardroom
- dash + board = dashboard
Examples:
- The teacher wrote on the blackboard.
- Read the information on the noticeboard.
- I use a computer keyboard.
Compound Words with "Light"
- sun + light = sunlight
- moon + light = moonlight
- fire + light = firelight
- flash + light = flashlight
- street + light = streetlight
- candle + light = candlelight
Examples:
- The room was filled with sunlight.
- We walked in the moonlight.
- Turn on the flashlight.
Compound Words with "House"
- house + boat = houseboat
- house + work = housework
- house + hold = household
- green + house = greenhouse
- guest + house = guesthouse
- farm + house = farmhouse
Examples:
- She completed her housework.
- Plants grow well in a greenhouse.
- We stayed in a small guesthouse.
Compound Words with "Man"
- police + man = policeman
- post + man = postman
- fire + man = fireman
- sales + man = salesman
- chair + man = chairman
- sports + man = sportsman
Examples:
- The postman delivered the letter.
- The policeman helped us.
- The fireman rescued the child.
Compound Words with "Woman"
- police + woman = policewoman
- sales + woman = saleswoman
- business + woman = businesswoman
- sports + woman = sportswoman
Examples:
- The policewoman helped the child.
- She is a successful businesswoman.
Compound Words with "Day"
- birth + day = birthday
- day + light = daylight
- day + dream = daydream
- day + time = daytime
- day + break = daybreak
- holi + day = holiday
Examples:
- Today is my birthday.
- The room was bright in the daylight.
- He was lost in a daydream.
Compound Words with "Work"
- home + work = homework
- house + work = housework
- class + work = classwork
- team + work = teamwork
- foot + work = footwork
- work + place = workplace
Examples:
- I completed my homework.
- Teamwork is important for success.
- She has a comfortable workplace.
Compound Words with "Time"
- bed + time = bedtime
- lunch + time = lunchtime
- day + time = daytime
- night + time = night-time
- part + time = part-time
- full + time = full-time
Examples:
- It is bedtime.
- We met at lunchtime.
- He works part-time.
Compound Words with "Ball"
- foot + ball = football
- basket + ball = basketball
- base + ball = baseball
- hand + ball = handball
- volley + ball = volleyball
- table + tennis = table tennis
Examples:
- He plays football.
- She enjoys basketball.
- They play volleyball.
Compound Words with "Rain"
- rain + bow = rainbow
- rain + coat = raincoat
- rain + drop = raindrop
- rain + fall = rainfall
- rain + water = rainwater
Examples:
- We saw a beautiful rainbow.
- Wear a raincoat during the rainy season.
- The rainfall was heavy.
Compound Words with "Sea"
- sea + shore = seashore
- sea + food = seafood
- sea + shell = seashell
- sea + water = seawater
- sea + side = seaside
Examples:
- We collected seashells.
- I like seafood.
- They spent their holiday at the seaside.
Compound Words with "Snow"
- snow + man = snowman
- snow + fall = snowfall
- snow + ball = snowball
- snow + flake = snowflake
- snow + storm = snowstorm
Examples:
- The children made a snowman.
- Heavy snowfall blocked the road.
- A snowflake fell on his hand.
Compound Words with "Back"
- back + ground = background
- back + pack = backpack
- back + yard = backyard
- back + bone = backbone
- back + door = backdoor
- back + side = backside
Examples:
- He carried a backpack.
- The garden is in the backyard.
- Music was playing in the background.
Compound Words with "Foot"
- foot + ball = football
- foot + step = footstep
- foot + print = footprint
- foot + path = footpath
- foot + wear = footwear
- foot + board = footboard
Examples:
- I bought new footwear.
- We followed the footpath.
- The police found a footprint.
Compound Words with "Hand"
- hand + bag = handbag
- hand + book = handbook
- hand + writing = handwriting
- hand + shake = handshake
- hand + made = handmade
- hand + work = handwork
Examples:
- She bought a new handbag.
- His handwriting is neat.
- They exchanged a handshake.
Compound Words with "Head"
- head + ache = headache
- head + line = headline
- head + phone = headphone
- head + room = headroom
- head + master = headmaster
- head + light = headlight
Examples:
- I have a headache.
- Read the newspaper headline.
- He is wearing headphones.
Compound Words with "Tooth"
- tooth + brush = toothbrush
- tooth + paste = toothpaste
- tooth + ache = toothache
- tooth + pick = toothpick
- tooth + less = toothless
Examples:
- Brush your teeth with a toothbrush.
- I bought a new toothpaste.
- He had a severe toothache.
Compound Words with "Star"
- star + fish = starfish
- star + light = starlight
- star + dust = stardust
- star + board = starboard
- star + gazing = stargazing
Examples:
- We saw a starfish at the beach.
- The sky was bright with starlight.
Compound Words with "Water"
- water + fall = waterfall
- water + melon = watermelon
- water + proof = waterproof
- water + bottle = water bottle
- water + fall = waterfall
- water + side = waterside
Examples:
- We visited a beautiful waterfall.
- I ate a slice of watermelon.
- This jacket is waterproof.
Common Compound Words – Quick List
Here are many useful compound words for students:
airplane, airport, birthday, blackboard, classroom, football, footballer, homework, notebook, textbook, newspaper, toothbrush, toothpaste, bedroom, bathroom, playground, schoolbag, schoolboy, schoolgirl, sunflower, rainbow, raincoat, rainfall, moonlight, sunlight, headache, toothache, handbag, backpack, keyboard, keyboard, football, basketball, volleyball, newspaper, weekend, weekday, bedroom, housework, teamwork, classroom, classmate, countryside, grandmother, grandfather, afternoon, midnight, breakfast, lunchtime, bedtime, haircut, hairstyle, snowfall, snowman, seashell, seafood, waterfall, watermelon, wildlife, earthquake, earthquake, bookshelf, doorway, doorbell, hometown, airport, railway, roadside.
Compound Words with "Grand"
Some family-related words are also compound words:
- grand + mother = grandmother
- grand + father = grandfather
- grand + son = grandson
- grand + daughter = granddaughter
- grand + parents = grandparents
- grand + child = grandchild
Examples:
- My grandmother tells interesting stories.
- His grandfather is a farmer.
- Their grandparents live in a village.
Compound Words with "After"
- after + noon = afternoon
- after + school = after-school
- after + thought = afterthought
- after + care = aftercare
Examples:
- I study in the afternoon.
- We have an after-school activity.
Compound Words with "Night"
- night + fall = nightfall
- night + mare = nightmare
- night + life = nightlife
- night + time = nighttime
- night + dress = nightdress
Examples:
- We returned home before nightfall.
- He had a strange nightmare.
Compound Words with "School"
- school + bag = schoolbag
- school + boy = schoolboy
- school + girl = schoolgirl
- school + bus = school bus
- school + book = schoolbook
- school + work = schoolwork
- school + mate = schoolmate
Examples:
- I packed my schoolbag.
- She met her old schoolmate.
- The school bus arrived on time.
Compound Words in Sentences
Let's understand compound words through complete sentences.
- I keep my books in my bookshelf.
- She wears a beautiful raincoat.
- We saw a rainbow after the rain.
- He plays football every evening.
- My classroom is clean.
- I completed my homework.
- She bought a new handbag.
- He carried a heavy backpack.
- We visited a beautiful waterfall.
- My grandmother makes delicious food.
- The newspaper is on the table.
- I forgot my toothbrush.
- The school bus arrived early.
- We waited at the bus stop.
- She likes ice cream.
- He works part-time.
- She is a well-known singer.
- They showed great self-confidence.
- The traffic light turned green.
- We reached the railway station on time.
Compound Words for Class 10 Language Study
In a Language Study question, students may be asked to:
1. Make a compound word
Example:
rain + ?
Answer: rainbow
foot + ?
Answer: football
class + ?
Answer: classroom
tooth + ?
Answer: toothbrush
2. Find a compound word
Example:
The boy carried a schoolbag.
Answer: schoolbag
3. Complete the compound word
Example:
sun + ______
Answer: sunflower
Example:
note + ______
Answer: notebook
Example:
rain + ______
Answer: raincoat / rainbow / rainfall
How to Make Your Own Sentence?
When a compound word is given, students should make a simple and meaningful sentence.
Compound Word: Classroom
Our classroom is clean.
Compound Word: Football
I play football every evening.
Compound Word: Rainbow
We saw a beautiful rainbow.
Compound Word: Toothbrush
I bought a new toothbrush.
Compound Word: Homework
I completed my homework.
Compound Word: Sunflower
The sunflower is beautiful.
Compound Word: Notebook
I wrote the answer in my notebook.
Common Mistakes to Avoid ⚠️
Mistake 1: Joining words incorrectly
❌ toothbrushes
when the question asks for the singular compound word.
✅ toothbrush
Mistake 2: Forgetting spaces in open compounds
Some expressions are normally written as two words:
✅ school bus
✅ post office
✅ ice cream
Mistake 3: Confusing ordinary phrases with compound words
Not every combination of two words is necessarily treated as a compound word. Learn common compound words and expressions used in standard English.
Quick Revision Chart ⭐
| Type | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Closed | Words joined without space | toothbrush, football, classroom |
| Open | Words written separately | school bus, post office, ice cream |
| Hyphenated | Words joined with a hyphen | well-known, part-time, mother-in-law |
Practice Questions
A. Make Compound Words
- tooth + ______ = __________
- foot + ______ = __________
- class + ______ = __________
- rain + ______ = __________
- sun + ______ = __________
- note + ______ = __________
- black + ______ = __________
- bed + ______ = __________
- home + ______ = __________
- hand + ______ = __________
Answers:
- tooth + brush = toothbrush
- foot + ball = football
- class + room = classroom
- rain + bow = rainbow
- sun + flower = sunflower
- note + book = notebook
- black + board = blackboard
- bed + room = bedroom
- home + work = homework
- hand + bag = handbag
B. Identify the Compound Word
1. I packed my schoolbag.
Answer: schoolbag
2. We saw a beautiful rainbow.
Answer: rainbow
3. She completed her homework.
Answer: homework
4. He bought a new toothbrush.
Answer: toothbrush
5. The students entered the classroom.
Answer: classroom
C. Make Sentences
Use the following compound words in your own sentences:
- football
- rainbow
- classroom
- notebook
- schoolbag
- sunflower
- homework
- toothbrush
- playground
- newspaper
Sample Answers:
- Football is my favourite sport.
- We saw a beautiful rainbow.
- Our classroom is clean.
- I wrote the answer in my notebook.
- My schoolbag is heavy.
- The sunflower looks beautiful.
- I completed my homework.
- I use a toothbrush every morning.
- The children are playing in the playground.
- My father reads the newspaper every morning.
Final Exam Tip ⭐
For Class 10 Language Study, remember:
Compound Word = Two or more words combined to form a new word or a single meaning.
Easy examples to remember:
tooth + brush = toothbrush
foot + ball = football
class + room = classroom
rain + bow = rainbow
sun + flower = sunflower
note + book = notebook
Three types:
Closed → toothbrush
Open → school bus
Hyphenated → well-known
The best way to learn Compound Words is to practise common word combinations and use them in simple sentences.
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