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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
noun as modifier
Hi,
What should I do to use the noun phrases like a "goblin cake" where the noun "goblin" modifies "cake" correctly as a compound noun? What should I look for to decide how much or what is allowed in terms of the correctness of this type of compound noun? I see some unusual constructions but seem to be accepted as correct? When a compound noun is correct and when is it not?
If I want the answer to a quiz that was adminitered just before to be given to me, can I say this?
If you have the quiz answer, please write it down on a piece of paper and give it to me.
Does it have to be "the answer to the quiz"? Instead, can I use the compound noun "quiz answer" to say the same thing? If not, why not?
What makes this correct?
What is your study focus?
What should I do to use the noun phrases like a "goblin cake" where the noun "goblin" modifies "cake" correctly as a compound noun? What should I look for to decide how much or what is allowed in terms of the correctness of this type of compound noun? I see some unusual constructions but seem to be accepted as correct? When a compound noun is correct and when is it not?
If I want the answer to a quiz that was adminitered just before to be given to me, can I say this?
If you have the quiz answer, please write it down on a piece of paper and give it to me.
Does it have to be "the answer to the quiz"? Instead, can I use the compound noun "quiz answer" to say the same thing? If not, why not?
What makes this correct?
What is your study focus?
Top answer
It is a good colloquial way of speaking, though a quiz will generally have a number of answers. I think that this is something you have to learn by use and example.
- It is a good colloquial way of speaking, though a quiz will generally have a number of answers.
- I think that this is something you have to learn by use and example.
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3 Answers
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It is a good colloquial way of speaking, though a quiz will generally have a number of answers.
I think that this is something you have to learn by use and example.
I think that this is something you have to learn by use and example.
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Bird cage; dog house; tree limb; Christmas tree; birthday card; wedding cake; pillow case; feather pillow; dining room; cactus plant; bar stool; kitchen window; lawn mower; picket fence; street light............get my drift? I think there is a term for these, but it escapes me at the moment.
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As with much of language, it's a matter of arbitrary usage. There are no rules. The conservative approach is not to use a combination unless you've heard it or read it somewhere. This is not really different from the structure of individual words, which cannot be invented by putting roots and affixes together in any way possible. For example, we say availability, not availablene
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