Compound noun or phrases

Question 1

Compound noun +noun, the first is singular. To make the plural, the second goes plural.

Exceptions:
When the first noun only has a plural form.
When we refer to an institution.

Answer 1

An address book (address books), coal mines, office-workers, tea leaves.

A savings account, a customs officer, a clothes shop, the arms trade, a glasses case, an arts festival.

The building materials industry, the publications department.

Question 2

We use noun “‘s” noun (possessive form):
The first noun is the user of the second noun.
The second noun is produced by the animal in the first noun.
We talk about parts of people or animals.

Answer 2

A baby’s bedroom, a lion’s den, a women’s clinic, a girl’s school, bird’s nest.

Goat’s cheese, duck’s eggs, cow’s milk.

A woman’s face, a boy’s arm.

Question 3

Use noun+preposition+noun:
Talk about the container with its contents.
When the compound name is not a well-known name.

Answer 3

A cup of tea (ca cup with tea in it), a tea cup (a cup for drinking tea).

Income tax (well-known tax), a tax on children’s clothes.

Question 4

Some compound nouns are made of verb+prepositions or adverbs.
Compound nouns like this have plural with an “S”.
Exception:
lookers-on, runners-up, passers-by, hangers-on.

Answer 4

There was a major break-out from prison last night.
Read-outs, push-ups, intakes, outcomes.

Question 5

We can form other hyphenated noun to specify the noun.
A state-of-the-art tablet
Up-to-date information.