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B1. Difficulty 3. Some interference.

Compound Nouns

Two nouns forming one idea, and which part takes the plural.

Why you specifically

Tiếng Việt thường không đánh dấu số nhiều bên trong cụm danh từ như tiếng Anh, nên người học dễ thêm -s vào noun đầu tiên hoặc bỏ qua dấu gạch nối trong tính từ ghép trước danh từ.

The rule

Compound nouns combine two nouns to make one idea, such as toothbrush, coffee shop, and bus stop. In most noun+noun compounds, the first noun stays singular and the plural ending goes on the last noun: toothbrushes, coffee shops, bus stops. Some compounds are written as one word, some as two words, and some with a hyphen. When the compound comes before another noun as an adjective, it is often hyphenated: a two-bedroom apartment, a three-hour meeting. Some compound nouns are always plural in form, such as sunglasses and headphones.

Noun + noun compounds usually take the plural on the final noun: bus stops, coffee shops, toothbrushes.
Some compound nouns are one word, some are two words, and some are hyphenated.
Compound adjectives before a noun are often hyphenated: a two-hour exam, a three-bedroom flat.
Some nouns are plural in form even for one item: sunglasses, headphones.

The trap

I bought two teethbrushes yesterday.
I bought two toothbrushes yesterday.
The first noun stays singular in a compound noun like toothbrush; the plural marker goes on the final noun.
She works in a coffees shop near my house.
She works in a coffee shop near my house.
In most noun+noun compounds, the first noun does not take a plural form.
We rented a three bedroom apartment.
We rented a three-bedroom apartment.
When a compound noun is used as an adjective before another noun, it is usually hyphenated.
My sister bought a pair of sunglass.
My sister bought a pair of sunglasses.
Some compound nouns are already plural in form, even when they refer to one item.

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