Compound Nouns - Advanced Exercises
B2 Level
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A key point is the difference between a verb phrase and a noun. We can say The car broke down, but the noun is a breakdown. We can check out of a hotel, but the payment area is a checkout. Some nouns also allow a hyphenated form, such as check-out or drop-out. This B2 exercise builds spelling accuracy and helps you recognise when a familiar verb pattern has become a compact noun in formal or workplace contexts. That distinction is useful when reading reports, emails, and news articles, where these nouns appear frequently in real examples and headings with technical or business meaning.
Quick Rule
verb/prefix + particle/base -> one-word, accepted hyphenated, or occasional accepted open compound noun
- 1.The breakdown delayed our journey by two hours.
- 2.We did not expect such a serious setback.
- 3.The checkout is next to the entrance.
- 4.Her comeback surprised the whole team.
- 5.The output increased after the system update.
All 20 questions
Form the correct compound noun from the parts given in parentheses. Write it as one word, two words, or with a hyphen as needed. Form the correct compound noun.
The mechanic explained the _____ of the engine in simple terms. (break / down)
Please go to the _____ counter to pay for your items. (check / out)
The company's annual _____ exceeded two million euros. (turn / over)
All staff must give _____ on the new proposal by Friday. (in / put)
The factory's _____ has increased by 30% this quarter. (out / put)
The high school _____ rate is a serious problem in the region. (drop / out)
We need to build a strong _____ of professionals in the industry. (net / work)
The passengers waiting on _____ were told the flight might be cancelled. (stand / by)
The project suffered a major _____ when funding was reduced. (set / back)
All customer information is stored in a secure _____. (data / base)
The _____ of the disease started in a small village. (out / break)
The team made an incredible _____ after losing the first three games. (come / back)
The government needs a clear _____ for implementing the new policy. (frame / work)
The plane's _____ was delayed by thirty minutes due to strong winds. (take / off)
The designer showed us the _____ of the new website before building it. (lay / out)
We have introduced a new digital _____ to improve team efficiency. (work / flow)
His main _____ as a manager is poor communication with his team. (short / coming)
The safety _____ led to a serious accident at the factory. (over / sight)
Renovating the old building will be an enormous _____. (under / taking)
The _____ of this historic building costs thousands of euros each year. (up / keep)
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