Compound words are made from two smaller words put together, for example book + shop = bookshop. (They are not always written as one word, for example shoe shop.) In most compound words, the stress is on the first part. For example, the word bookshop has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable. Listen to these examples.
Oo Ooo Oooo
bookshop, bus stop, footpath, airport, shoe shop, road sign, car park, bedroom traffic light, bus station, sunglasses, boarding card, window seat, check-in desk travel agent, art gallery, supermarket, tape recorder, photocopy
Note: If the first part of the compound word is an adjective, there may be stress on the second part too, for example OOdouble room. Note: There may be stress on the second part of a compound noun when:
the object in the second part is made out of the material in the first for example OOglass jar,
the first part tells us where the second part is, for example OOcar door.
There's a good shopping centre. You can find almost anything there.There are bookshops, shoe shops, a travel agent's, a post office, ahairdresser's, a supermarket, everything... and there are a few snackbars if you want a hamburger or something. Oh, and there's a sportscentre too, with a swimming pool and a playground for the kids. But becareful with your handbag, I had my credit card stolen there once!
Oo
Ooo
Oooo
bookshops
anything
shopping centre
Follow up: Record yourself saying the text. Make sure you put the stress in the correct place.
Listen. In each sentence, one of the compound words (in bold) has stress on the first part (Oo) and the other has stress on the second part too (OO). Underline the word if there is stress on the second part too. Key.1. second hand 2. old fashioned 3. hand made 4. short-sighted 5. half price 6. first class Example: They did the photocopies overnight. 1 I got this motorbikesecond hand. 2 Using a typewriter is so old fashioned. 3 These earrings were hand made. 4 I'm short-sighted, like my grandmother. 5 All the sunglasses are half price. 6 The waiting room is for first class only.