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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Compound Nouns
Hello. My book says that compound nouns are two words. But, can a compound noun be more than 2 words? For example, real estate agent? Thank you.
Top answer
Yes, such compounds of more than two words are not particularly uncommon. You are even likely to find some with four or even five words. "English grammar question", "health department rule book", "railroad car seat cover", "earthquake insurance provider", "folksong writers convention", etc.
- Yes, such compounds of more than two words are not particularly uncommon.
- You are even likely to find some with four or even five words.
- "English grammar question", "health department rule book", "railroad car seat cover", "earthquake insurance provider", "folksong writers convention", etc.
- CJ
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3 Answers
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Yes, such compounds of more than two words are not particularly uncommon. You are even likely to find some with four or even five words. "English grammar question", "health department rule book", "railroad car seat cover", "earthquake insurance provider", "folksong writers convention", etc.
CJ
CJ
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Hello Guest
Yes you can use long compound nouns if you like them. But caution! If you use a noun phrase made with too many nouns, your reader might fail to get the exact sense of the phrase.
(1) The President Bush's 30 percent arms expenditure reduction proposal just passed the Congress.
(2) The proposal by President Bush to reduce arms expenditures by 30 percen
Yes you can use long compound nouns if you like them. But caution! If you use a noun phrase made with too many nouns, your reader might fail to get the exact sense of the phrase.
(1) The President Bush's 30 percent arms expenditure reduction proposal just passed the Congress.
(2) The proposal by President Bush to reduce arms expenditures by 30 percen
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