Some people assume that English teachers are wonderful spellers. This is not true! In fact, many of us have to review spelling rules regularly. We also have to review other aspects of the language before we teach a lesson. One thing I have trouble remembering is compound nouns. I often find myself looking up words just to be sure they are one word rather than two. Sometimes these words end up being hyphenated. I've noticed on MyEC that many other people have the same problem. This month, let's practise using compound nouns.
Your Task
1) Review EnglishClub's lesson on compound nouns. (Learn all 3 types.)
2) Create a list of 10 compound nouns that you want to remember. Search for lists of "compound nouns" online.
3) Add a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge: My Compound Noun List
4) Challenge a few MyEC members to write 10 sentences about other MyEC members (or about MyEC) using YOUR word list. The members can write their example sentences in the comments of your post. Make sure the member(s) sees your challenge!
5) Share a link to your word list in the comments of this post as well.
*Optional: Add the best sentences to your post with credit to the writers. (Try to fix any errors.) Record the sentences and share the MP3 file. Don't forget the rules about the pronunciation of compound nouns.
My Word List
1. ice cream
2. high school
3. hairdresser
4. blackboard
5. bus stop
6. sister-in-law
7. swimming pool
8. five-year-old
9. redhead
10. takeout
*I challenge all of the EC Mods to write example sentences using these words! (Anyone is welcome to try.) The best sentences will be added to this post.
Comments
Dear teacher, Tara,
Sorry, I accidently placed this on a different place in your page on 17/09/2012.
Good Luck!
Bimal
Hi Tara,
Here's my blog about this month's writing challenge. I included plenty of compound nouns that I'm not familiar with.
Regards,
Robbie
@Manuella Thanks for being such a committed member of the Writing Challenge Group! Great sentences. Here are a few corrections:
In Belgium hairdressers are much too expensive ! They ask $100 to cut and dry your hair ("for a cut and dry")! –That's crazy! I thought it was expensive here in Canada.
When I go to the center of Antalya, before boarding the bus I always tie up my bicycle near the bus stop.
My first grandchild just turned five years old on August 4.
Note: I'm glad you used the plural form: "sisters-in-law". It forced me to look it up and check this word. In American English you often hear "sister-in-laws" (I have two, do you?) but the grammar gurus say this in incorrect because it is the noun (sisters) that should be pluralized. Cheers!
@Ashwini Krishnan Brilliant!
@Heaven Thanks for joining!
4. Blackboard
We don't use blackboards any more. We use whiteboards in our classes. (or a blackboard)
5. Bus stop
"Yesterday I waited too long for the bus in at the bus stop," which is close to my house.
6. Sister-in-law
My sister-in-law carries everything in her bag, but the kitchen sink. Nice sentence!
7. Swimming pool
My friend was drowning in the swimming pool when I was a teenager.
I do prefer to say; "I'd like to order some takeaway," instead of takeout. "What do you think, Tara?" -In North America we say "takeout" (never takeaway). I wonder if this is a British English thing? Does anyone know?
Thanks for the corrections Expector. I think I got what you meant about my mistakes.
Thanks for all the nice sentences, Manuela (Forget-me-Not)!
I especially enjoyed your sentence No. 5 (with the "leftover"). I found some errors in your sentences, though.
In #2 - "headquarter" (verb) should be "headquarters" (noun).
In #3 - "once" should have been "one's".
In #4 - it seems "sports center" is more common than "sport center".
In #8 - becareful "pick up" is a phrasal verb, while "pickup" or "pick-up" is a compound noun.
Hope you get it! Thanks again.
Hello Tara, here are my sentences, I would really appreciate your corrections.
My favorite ice cream flavor is pistachio .
Though I was in a very strict boarding school I have wonderful memories from my high school time.
In Belgium hairdressers are much to expensive ! They ask 100 $ to cut and to dry once hair !
When I was in high school, my mathematic teacher used to ask me often to go to the blackboard to make exercises ... for me it was a nightmare !!!
When I go to the center of Antalya, before boarding the bus I always tied up my bicycle near the bus stop.
I have two sisters-in-law. Both are very nice.
Though we have a swimming pool in our garden, I am not a good swimmer ! What a shame !
My first grand child just turned five years old on August 4.
Do you know that I am a real redhead ? When I was a child I suffered from many jokes about this, but nowadays, I am very proud of it.
Years ago, takeout food use to be junk food but, nowadays, we can buy well balanced menus.
Hello Expector, here are he sentences I wrote with the words you gave us for this challenge. Please, fell free to correct my mistakes. Thanks
Courtship is not a place where I would like to have to go.
The headquarter of my business is located in Bolland Belgium
It's always great to have a backyard to once house.
The sport center of our city is located to far away from home for our children to walk there.
Some people are really gifted to cook leftover into a delicious meal.
Belgium is said to have one of the best healthcare policy of the world.
The highlights of my visit in Paris, were the Louvres but also Montmartre which is my favorite place of the city.
When my children were in primary school, I always pickedthem up at lunch time.
I could never be a lifeguard, I don't swim good enough to safe lives.
Now that my second granddaughter is born, I have twosweethearts, Lilou and Joy
Thank you, Tara! I appreciate the corrections! : )
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