COMPOUND NOUN PLURALS

 What is a Compound Noun?

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