Compound nouns

Compound nouns: noun + noun
1. A compound noun is a fixed expression, made up of two or more words that function as a noun. Compound nouns are usually combinations of two nouns: Compound nouns are often written as • two words: • one word • occasionally they may be with a hyphen:	address book, science fiction, flower garden, garden flower   can opener, burglar alarm trademark baby-sitter
2. Usually the main stress is on the first part of a compound noun, but sometimes it is on the second:	alarmclock, answeringmachine, bankaccount, creditcard busstop, heartattack, teabag, referencebook
3. Compound nouns may be countable, uncountable, or used only in the singular or the plural. Here some examples of common • uncountable compound nouns:   • compound nouns used only in the singular:     • compound nouns used only in the plural:	birth control, blood pressure, data processing family planning, food poisoning, income tax, junk food, pocket money   death penalty, generation gap, global warming, mother tongue,   sound barrier, brain drain, grass roots, kitchen scissors, luxury goods, public works, sunglasses
4. The noun + nounstructure is used for well-known everyday combinations.   To talk about things that do not go together so often, we usually prefer a structure with a preposition:	a war film, a history book a postman, road signs     a film about a dog (NOT a dog film) a book about violins (NOT a violin book) a man from the bank (NOT a bank man) signs of anger (NOT anger signs)
Compound nouns: verb + preposition
Some compound nouns are based on phrasal verbs. They often have an informal feel to them and are common in newspaper reporting:	walkout (strike) crackdown (action against) takeover (purchase by another company) shakeup (change) outlets (places to sell) layoff (ending employment) cutbacks (reductions) downturn (decline) backup (a duplicate version or substitute) turnover (change) setup (plan) setback (circumstances that delay rogress) outset (start)
NOTE: Weuse the noun+ nounstructure to name common kind of things.The first noun is often like an object (of a verb or preposition) We use the possessive's structuremost often to talk about something that belongs to a particular person, group, country or animal.The first noun is often like a subject (usually of the verb have):	a shoeshop = a shop that sells shoes a warfilm = a film about war that cat's tail=that cat has a tail China's history= China has history

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