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A compound
noun is formed when two or more words (noun), usually of different genres, are
placed side-by-side, separated only by an hyphen (-). Examples are:
mother-in-law, Nobel-laureate, etc.
Formation of Compound Word Plurals
Plurals of
compound words follow certain rules which have to be obeyed. Let us see the
following:
Rule #1
If in a compound word, an adjective (or a
noun with an adjectival force) precedes a noun or an adjectival phrase or
adverb follows a noun, the noun should be pluralized.
Example:
Singular Plural
Maid - servant Maid -
servants
Passer - by Passers
- by
Going - on Goings
- on
Son - in - law Sons - in
- law
In the
examples above, maid is a noun with an adjectival force while by, on and in-law
are all adverbs.
Rule #2
If an adjective follows a noun in a compound
word, the last word (adjective) is pluralized.
Example:
Singular Plural
Major - general Major - generals
Surgeon - major Surgeon - majors
Sign - manual Sign - manuals
Poet - laureate Poet - laureates
In the above
examples, all the last words: general, major, manual, and laureate are all
adjectives.
Rule #3
If a compound consists of two designates of
equal application, both parts must be pluralized.
Example:
Singular Plural
Lord - justice Lords - justices
Man - servant Men - servants
Woman - doctor Women - doctors
Lord - lieutenant Lords - lieutenants
Rule #4
If the first part of a compound is a verb,
the last part must be pluralized.
Example:
Singular Plural
Run - away Run
- aways
Spend - thrift Spend - thrifts
Forget - me - not Forget - me - nots
Rule #5
If a compound noun ends in ful, pluralize the ending part (ful)
Example:
Singular Plural
Mouth - ful Mouth
- fuls
Cup - ful Cup
- fuls
Spoon - ful Spoon
- fuls
Hand - ful Hand
- fuls
