Question

How many words given below are compound words? Ice cream, sailboat, rain fall, backyard, football, butterfly

• A. None
• B. All
• C. Two
• D. One

Answer 1

Answer:

B. All

Understanding Compound Words

• A compound word is formed when two or more words are joined together to create a new word with a new meaning.
• Compound words can be written in three ways: as one word (closed compound), as two separate words (open compound), or with a hyphen (hyphenated compound).

Analysis of the Given Words

• Ice cream: An open compound word (two words forming one concept).
• Sailboat: A closed compound word (one word).
• Rainfall: A closed compound word (one word).
• Backyard: A closed compound word (one word).
• Football: A closed compound word (one word).
• Butterfly: A closed compound word (one word).

Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams

• Recognizing compound words is a common topic in English language and grammar sections of competitive exams.
• Pay attention to both closed (e.g., sunflower, keyboard) and open compound words (e.g., high school, living room).
• Hyphenated compound words (e.g., mother-in-law, well-being) are also important to identify.
• Often, questions will test your ability to distinguish between compound words and simple words or phrases.
• Be aware that the classification of some words as open or closed compounds can sometimes be debated, but for exams, focus on the most common and widely accepted forms.