Formation of Words Questions and Answers

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

1. The structure of the compound word ‘blue-black’ is ______
a) Noun + Noun
b) Verb + Noun
c) Adjective + Adjective
d) Adjective + Noun
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Blue-black’ is a hyphenated compound word and is formed by the combination of two adjectives.

2. Which of the following words is a compound word?
a) administrator
b) goodness
c) computer
d) upland
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Among the options, ‘upland’ is a compound word formed by the combination of an adverb (up) and a noun (land).

3. The compound word in which the modifying adjective combines with the noun to create a new noun is _________
a) Open compound word
b) Closed compound word
c) Hyphenated compound word
d) Primary derivative
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: ‘Coffee mug’ is an example for the statement given in question wherein the adjective combines with the noun to create a new noun. Such compound words are classified as open compound words.
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4. Identify the structure of the compound word ‘writing-desk’ from the following options.
a) Gerund + Noun
b) Verb + Noun
c) Adjective + Adjective
d) Adjective + Verb
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Any verb ending with ‘ing’ is a gerund. Thus, the compound word consists of the gerund (writing) and the noun (desk).

5. Which of the following compound words has the structure ‘Verb + Noun’?
a) spendthrift
b) forethought
c) off-shoot
d) red-hot
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Any word formed by a combination of two or more simple words is a compound word. Among the options, the word ‘spendthrift’ has a Verb + Noun structure.

6. Identify the compound word in the sentence below.
He suffered a recent drawback in his business.
a) suffered
b) recent
c) drawback
d) business
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Drawback’ is the compound word present in the sentence which is formed from the combination of a verb (draw) and an adverb (back).

7. Identify the option which has the formation ‘Noun + Adjective’.
a) earmark
b) armchair
c) everlasting
d) blood-red
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The word ‘blood-red’ is a combination of the noun (blood) and the adjective (red) and is the required answer.
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8. ‘Eulogy’ is a compound word.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: ‘Eulogy’ is a Secondary derivative and not a compound word. It has the prefix ‘eu’ attached to the word ‘logy’.

9. Select the compound word from the options below.
a) breach
b) advice
c) lifelong
d) month
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Lifelong’ is a compound word. The other options, ‘month’ is a primary word, ‘breach’ and ‘advice’ are primary derivatives.
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10. Select the structure of the compound word ‘manservant’.
a) Adverb + Noun
b) Noun + Noun
c) Gerund + Adjective
d) Adjective + Adverb
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: ‘Noun + Noun’ is the structure of the compound word ‘manservant’. Being a single word, it comes under the category of closed compound words.

11. Select the compound word with the structure ‘Verb + Adverb’.
a) outlaw
b) moonlight
c) send-off
d) waylay
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Send’ acts as the verb in the word ‘send-off’. Since the word ‘off’ defines the verb, it becomes an adverb.

12. The compound word in the below sentence is ___________
He brought this brand-new leather jacket to the school.
a) school
b) brought
c) leather jacket
d) brand-new
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The compound word in the given sentence is ‘brand-new’. ‘School’ is a primary word, ‘brought’ is a verb and ‘leather jacket’ is the object.

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

Answer: c
Explanation: The word ‘white’ is an adjective and ‘wash’ is a verb. Thus, ‘whitewash’ is a combination of an adjective and a verb.

14. ‘Living room’ is a closed compound word.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The word ‘living room’ is classified as an open compound word. The structure of the word is ‘Adjective + Noun’.

15. Choose the compound word which has the structure ‘Noun + Noun’.
a) blackboard
b) screwdriver
c) walking-stick
d) hand-made
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: ‘Screwdriver’ is the correct answer among the options. It has the required structure, in which both the words ‘screw’ and ‘driver’ are nouns.

More English Grammar Exercises on Word Formation:

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, 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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