Lesson uzbekistan’s pearl. The Ferghana valley

Adjective+noun
Greenhouse, software, redhead
Adjective+verb	Dry-cleaning, public speaking
Adverb+noun	Onlooker, bystander
Adverb+verb*	Output, overthrow, upturn, input

Compound nouns often have a meaning that is different from the two separate words.
Pronunciation
Compound nouns tend to have more stress on the first word.
Stress is important in pronuciation, as it distiguishes between a compound noun (e.g. greenhouse) and an adjective with a noun (e.g. green house)


In compound nouns, the stress usually falls on the first syllable:
A´greenhouse=place where we grow plants (compound noun)
A green ´house=house painted green (adjective and noun)
A ´bluebird=type of bird (compound noun)
A blue ´bird=any bird with blue feathers (adjective and noun)
Many common nouns are formed from phrasal verbs (verb+adverb or adverb+verb)
Examples, breakdown, outbreak, outcome, cutback, drive-in, drop-out, feedback, flyover, hold-up, hangover, outlay, outlet, inlet, makeup, output, set-back, stand-in, takeaway, walkover.
Plural
In general we make the plural of a compound noun by adding –s to the “base word” (the most “significant” word). Look at these examples:

Singular	plural
A tennis shoe	A tennis shoes
One assistant headmaster	One assistant headmasters
The sergeant major	The sergeants major
A mother-in-law	A mothers-in-law
An assistant secretary of state	An assistant secretaries of state
My toothbrush	My toothbrushes
A woman-doctor	A women-doctor
A doctor of philosophy	A doctors of philosophy
A passerby, a passer-by	A passersby, a passers-by

Note that there is some variation with words like spoonful or truckful. The old style was to say spoonsful or trucksful for the plural. Today it is more usual to say spoonfuls or truckfuls. Both the old style (spoonsful) and the new style (spoonfuls) are normally acceptable, but you should be consisnent in your choice. Here are some examples: