11+ Verbal reasoning · Topic explained
Compound words
How can two small words make a brand new one?
The big idea
Take one word from each group. Together, in order, they make one real word.
Picture it
Two building bricks snapping together to make something new.
Key words
- compound word
- one word made from two smaller words
- order
- the word from the first group always comes first
- spelling
- the new word is spelt from the two words, even if it sounds different
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
(fire wish tree) (line work shoe)
- Try each pair: fire + work = firework
- Answer: fire, work
- 211+ standard
(horse rattle jelly) (snake coat bid)
- Horse and snake are tempting, but horsesnake isn't a word.
- rattle + snake = rattlesnake
- 311+ standard
(after mess ram) (bag mill page)
- ram + page = rampage
- It sounds different from 'ram' and 'page', but it's spelt that way.
- 411+ standard
(for pig book) (son corn mat)
- for + mat = format
- Short words hide long ones.
The common mistake
The mistake
The new word must sound like the two small words.
Instead
Spelling counts, not sound: ram + page makes rampage.
Why: Many compound words change their sound, so children skip right answers.
Where it comes up in the 11+
GL gives two groups of three words, and the first group's word always comes first. Say each pair in your head.
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains compound words step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Compound words worksheet
Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.
Download the worksheet (PDF)Free account needed: it takes a minute.
Quick quiz
Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.
1. (sea beg man) (page shell bag)
- sea + shell
- man + page
- beg + bag
- man + bag
Show the answerHide the answer
sea + shell
seashell
2. (wild be mess) (nest boat low)
- be + low
- wild + boat
- mess + low
- be + nest
Show the answerHide the answer
be + low
below
3. (high pea tab) (bag let made)
- tab + let
- pea + let
- high + made
- high + bag
Show the answerHide the answer
tab + let
tablet