Formation of Compound Words Questions and Answers

This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Formation of Compound Words”.

1. Identify the option which has the formation ‘Noun + Participle’.
a) jailbird
b) nevertheless
c) screwdriver
d) heaven-born
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The word ‘heaven-born’ is a combination of the noun (heaven) and the participle (born). ‘Born’ is partly a verb and partly an adjective and thus, it is a participle.

2. ‘Windmill’ has a Noun + Noun structure.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: ‘Windmill’ is a compound word formed by the combination of two nouns. Some other examples having this structure include ‘manservant’, ‘horse-power’ etc.,

3. The structure of the compound word ‘quicksilver’ is ______
a) Noun + Noun
b) Verb + Noun
c) Adjective + Adjective
d) Adjective + Noun
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: ‘Quicksilver’ is a closed compound word and is formed by the combination of an adjective and a noun.
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4. Which of the following words is a compound word?
a) unhappy
b) surfeit
c) overcoat
d) hopeful
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Among the options, ‘overcoat’ is a compound word formed by the combination of an adverb (over) and a noun (coat).

5. Select the compound word with the structure ‘Adverb + Verb’.
a) chess-board
b) pickpocket
c) undertake
d) stronghold
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Among the options, the compound word ‘undertake’ has the required structure ‘Adverb + Verb’. Some other examples include ‘income’, ‘outset’ etc.,

6. Which of the following is a closed compound word?
a) superman
b) real estate
c) fire-proof
d) long-term
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: ‘Superman’ is a closed compound word. The other options, ‘real estate’ is an open compound word. Both ‘fire-proof’ and ‘long-term’ are hyphenated compound words.

7. Identify the structure of the compound word ‘onlooker’ from the following options.
a) Gerund + Noun
b) Verb + Noun
c) Adverb + Noun
d) Adjective + Verb
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The given compound word is a combination of an adverb and a noun. ‘On’ is the adverb whereas ‘looker’ is the noun.
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8. Identify the compound word in the sentence below.
My father protested against the manager and he was made an outlaw.
a) father
b) protested
c) outlaw
d) manager
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Outlaw’ is the compound word present in the sentence which is formed from the combination of an adverb (out) and a noun (law).

9. The Primary derivative ‘fleet’ is derived from its verb form ‘flight’.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Fleet is used as an adjective and it is a Primary derivative obtained from modifying the verb form ‘float’.
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10. Select the structure of the compound word ‘outspoken’.
a) Adverb + Noun
b) Noun + Noun
c) Gerund + Adjective
d) Adverb + Participle
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: ‘Adverb + Participle’ is the structure of the compound word ‘outspoken’. The word ‘spoken’ partakes the nature of both a verb and an adjective. Thus, it is a Participle.

11. Select the compound word from the options below.
a) halfpenny
b) diagonal
c) backwards
d) pursue
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: ‘Halfpenny’ is a compound word. The other options ‘diagonal’, ‘backwards’ and ‘pursue’ are all Secondary derivatives.

12. Choose the compound word which has the structure ‘Adverb + Noun’.
a) browbeat
b) inside
c) homesick
d) walking stick
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: ‘Inside’ is the correct answer among the options. It has the required structure, with ‘in’ being the adverb and ‘side’ is the noun.

13. Which of the following options expresses the formation of the compound word ‘worldly-wise’?
a) Adjective + Noun
b) Verb + Noun
c) Adjective + Adjective
d) Adjective + Gerund
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Both the words in ‘worldly-wise’ are adjectives. Thus, it is a combination of two adjectives. Also, it’s an hyphenated compound word.

14. The compound word in the below sentence is ___________
He used to play football in the weekends.
a) weekends
b) he
c) play
d) football
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The compound word in the given sentence is ‘football’. It is an example for a compound word formed from two nouns.

15. Which of the following compound words has the structure ‘Gerund + Noun’?
a) Blotting paper
b) sunlight
c) teaspoon
d) inborn
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: A Gerund is a verb ending with ‘ing’. Thus, among the options, the word ‘blotting paper’ has the required Gerund + Noun structure.

To practice all topics of English Grammar, here is complete set of 5000+ Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia - Founder & CTO at Sanfoundry
Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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