Compound where the 1st noun is is the direct object of the action of the agent the 2nd noun.
N1+N2 resulting in a noun
* The agent usually ends in –er, -or, and can be either human or non-human. Sometimes the direct object relationship is less obvious.
Ex. blood donor /’blʌd dəʊn ə/
skyscraper /ˈskaɪ ˌskreɪp ə/
babysitter /ˈbeɪbiˌsɪtə/
o EXCEPTIONS: stage manager, school governor.
N1 delimits the meaning of N2 by stating “what type of thing” it is.
N1+N2 resulting in a noun
Ex. Bookshop /ˈbʊk ʃɒp/
Airport /ˈeə pɔːt/
Hairstyle /ˈheə staɪəl/
- In many other examples, a N1 with more specific reference favours double stress as in “school secretary” /,skuːl ˈsek rət‿əri/ has a specific reference, “schoolboy” /ˈskuːl bɔɪskuːlbɔɪˈskuːlbɔɪ/ doesn’t.
*Single vs. double stress can be responsible for changes in meaning, as in family name /ˈfæm li neɪm/ (surname) and family name /,fæm li ‘neɪm/ (‘family reputation’).
N1 is usually a mass noun indicating the material N2 is made of.
N1+N2 resulting in a noun.
Semantically, the collocation expresses an “unintentional accumulation” rather than “intended construction”.
Ex. Raindrop /ˈreɪn drɒp/
Snowflake /ˈsnəʊ fleɪk/
Breadcrumb /ˈbred krʌm/
- Noun + Verb -ing. N is the object of V
N+V-ing in a noun or an adjective.
Ex. Housekeeping /ˈhaʊs ˌkiːp ɪŋ/
Breathtaking /ˈbreθteɪk ɪŋ/
Handwriting /ˈhændraɪt ɪŋ/
EXCEPTIONS: family planning, zebra crossing.
- Verb -ing + Noun , where N isn’t the subject nor does V itself.
V-ing + N resulting in a noun.
The noun sometimes represents the element that is used for V, or the place or time for the action of the verb.
Ex. Walking stick /ˈwɔːk ɪŋ stɪk/
Baking powder /ˈbeɪk ɪŋ paʊd ə/
Swimming pool /ˈswɪm ɪŋ puːl/
Adjetive + noun
Adj + N resulting in a Noun.
Ex. Blackboard / ˈblæk bɔːd/
Noun + Participle
Noun - participle resulting on an adjetive.
o N is usually the subject of P
Ex. Sunburnt /ˈsʌn bɜːnt /
Noun + adjective
N+Adj resulting on a noun.
Few of them are single stress
Ex. Homesick /ˈhəʊm sɪk/
Verb + Noun
V+N resulting in nouns and adjectives.
Ex. Cookbook /kʊkbʊk/
Pickpocket /ˈpɪk ˌpɒk ɪt/
Noun + Verb
N+V resultin in nouns
Ex. Sunset /ˈsʌn set/
Firefly /ˈfaɪ‿ə |flaɪ/
Verb + particle
V+ Particle are single stress when fuctioning as nouns.
Ex. Backup /ˈbæk ʌp/
Fallout /ˈfɔːl aʊt/
Adverb + Noun
Adv + N resulting in a noun
Ex. Background /ˈbæk ɡraʊnd/
Outlaw /ˈaʊt lɔː/
Compunds with “Street” and “Gate”
The nouns Street and Gate do not take stress in street name collocations, which makes the patterns single-stressed. On the contrary, all other words denoting thoroughfares are stressed.
Verb + Adverb
V+Adv form nouns
Verb + verb
V + V originate verbs, nouns and adjectives.
Abbreviation + Noun
Abb + N originate nouns
Ex. T-bone
