Compound Words Worksheets

Compound words are formed when two words join together. The word that is formed shares its meaning from both words. For example when we join the word "home" + "sick". We form the word "homesick". The word "home" usually refers to place we reside. The word "sick" usually means ill or in poor health. The word "homesick" refers to the longing caused by separation from your home.

Shaping Compound Words
Form a series of compounded words. A neat way to do it. This is one of those worksheets that come to you in your sleep. I woke up and had a shape connection idea. A lot of teachers enjoy this one.

Seeing Compound Words Made
We offer up some visuals to help students visualize the words they are creating. We provide picturs to help further prompt students into understand the words that are being created.

Make The Best Compound Word
This one is a bit more challenging. Make a word and then define it. First, we ask you to create a compound word from the list that we provide and you are asked to define it. This is a very thorough activity.

Compound Words Shape Challenge
Assemble new words while using your creativity. Match column 1 too column 2 to make compound words. Then do it again with column 3.

Making Compound Words
Simple formation of new words. Assemble new words. A very basic introduction to making compound words. Everything is prompted for you.

Combine and Define Words
A really good exercise for mind. This is another create, write, and define activity. This really helps students master this skill.

Compound Words in Sentences
Find the compounded word and then break it down. Read the sentences and find the compound words. After that, break the word down into the two parts that form it.

Breakdown Compound Words in Sentences
These words are a bit more difficult for students. These are slightly shorter sentences to make this sheet very manageable.

Making Compound Words
A simple one to one word activity. Put two words together and make one word. Then, write it neatly on the line.

The Compound Word Match
Draw yourself up some new words. Match the words up by drawing a line to form compound words.

Creating Compound Words
Postcards, rosebuds, and eyeballs... Oh my! These words are rather larger and the definitions can be a bit confusing for little ones.

Matching Compound Words
Put two together to make one. Draw a line from one word to another to form compound words.

What Are: Open, Closed, or Hyphenated Compound Words?

English language is rich in words. While there are numerous words to describe a single idea, it is fascinating to find a combination of words forming a new idea. This is where it gets tricky to remember which word can be used separately and which must come with another word.

The most challenging part about such vocabulary words can be figuring out the spelling. Misspelled words can reduce credibility and repel people. Hence, it is essential to understand what compound words are and how different types of compound words are spelled differently.

What Are Compound Words?

Two separate words combining together to form a new word with a new meaning are called compound words. For example, ice cream is a noun made up of two separate words: ice and cream. The words separately may not necessarily relate to the meaning of the newly formed word.

Types of Compound Words

There are three different types of compound words based on how different words are combined together to form a new word.

Open Compound Words

An open compound word usually consists of a modifying adjective along with a noun. The words are written with a space in between. Then, how would you know whether it's an open compound word? The words are commonly found to be appearing together.

Open compound words examples: living room, hot dog

Often, the adverb of manner (suffix -ly) combines with another word to make a compound word. Such words would also have a blank space in between. Example: Freshly baked, commonly accepted

Closed Compound Words

Compound words that are two separate words joined together without a space or hyphen are referred to as closed compound words. Such words are largely accepted as a noun, though in the past these words were separately used.

Closed examples: fireplace, bedroom

Hyphenated Compound Words

Some compound words are made by combining two or more words using a hyphen in between. Such compound words are known as hyphenated compound words.

Hyphenated examples: merry-go-round, happy-go-lucky

Here are some common compound words examples that you must be familiar with. These words might sometimes seem a little different in spelling, but we'll discuss those reasons later on in the article.

How Can You Identify Which Form Would Be the Most Appropriate?

They are made up of a combination of two or more words. Therefore, it can often be confusing when such words come together in a sentence in their original context. How would you figure out which style of writing a compound word should you use?

Here are some rules of thumb for you to remember regarding hyphenation along with compound words examples:

When to hyphenate:

- Open compound word as a compound adjective: When an open compound word is added before a noun as an adjective, it should be hyphenated.

Example: My work has always been up to date.

Where is your up-to-date report?

- Closed compound word as a compound adjective: Similarly, when a closed compound word is added before a noun as an adjective, it should also be hyphenated.

Example: I love doing your makeup.

I'm being called tomorrow for a make-up test.

When not to hyphenate:

- Closed compound word as a verb: When a closed compound word is being used as a verb, it should not be hyphenated.

Example: I enjoy sleeping in my pullovers.

The cop asked me to pull over.

- Hyphenated compound word as a verb: Similarly, when a hyphenated compound word is being used as a verb, the hyphen must be removed.

Example: I'm waiting for my time log-in credentials.

Why do you always log in late?

Why Should You Know the Different Types?

It is important for you to know different types of compound words and remember which word falls into which category to avoid spelling errors when writing.

Having this knowledge will also help you have a consistent style throughout your writing, allowing you to form a voice and adding to your credibility.

Apart from correctly categorizing words, you'd also have an ample word supply that will help you write without repetition. It would accentuate your writing and make it richer in style.

Conclusion

Compound words are formed by combining two or more than two words. If there's a space between the two words, it's an open compound word. If there's no space between the two words, it's known as closed compound words. If the words have hyphen in between, then these are hyphenated compound words.

Remember the rules of hyphenation whenever writing a text. Open and closed compound words when used as an adjective must be hyphenated whereas closed and hyphenated compound words must not be hyphenated when used a verb.

Knowing what's compound words and practicing using compound words examples can help you develop a consistent writing style. It will also reduce the amount of spelling errors you make, adding more reliability to your text.

Whenever in doubt, check and double-check the dictionary that you follow. It's better to go through your piece once again than making mistakes.