Compound nouns, meaning two nouns put together to form a new noun, are frequently used in the German language. Kindergarten is an example of a compound noun: The nouns are Kinder and Garten. The meaning of these compound nouns can easily be guessed if you know the meaning of the two nouns that make up the compound noun. Sometimes the compound noun has a different meaning than the two individual nouns, as is the case with the word Handschuh. Although Hand translates to “hand,” and Schuh is “shoe,” the compound noun translates as “glove.” The second noun in a compound noun such as Handschuhe (“gloves”) determines the noun's meaning and article. The first noun in a compound noun is merely a modifier.

Exercise 42

Fill in the blanks.

The third answer has been provided for you.

• ________________(das Haus [“the house”] + der Herr [“the master”] the master of the house

• Der Badezimmerschlüssel =

  ____________________________________________________

• das Schlafzimmer (der Schlaf [“the sleep”] + das Zimmer [“the room”]) the bedroom

• die Hafergrütze =

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