When talking about compound nouns, we remember the union of two or more words, which together perform the noun function. Like for example:
Cauliflower, sunflower, welcome, fennel
These compound nouns, when they are written in the plural, obey some rules, as happens with several other terms that belong to the Portuguese language.
Therefore, it is important that we know about them so that we do not have any doubts at the time of writing.
Below we will observe a relationship with some of these rules:
* When the word is composed of two nouns – The two elements remain in the plural.
Ex: cauliflower, cauliflowers
dental surgeon, dentists
manatee, manatee
porcupine, porcupines
* When the word is formed by a noun and an adjective - The two elements will also go to the plural:
E.g.: civil guard - civil guards
fennel - fennel
pansies - pansies
* When the word is formed by a noun and a verb or a word that does not vary (it is not plural) - only the second element remains plural:
E.g.: mutt - mutt
hummingbird - hummingbirds
weather vane – weather vanes
* When elements are linked by prepositions – only the first element remains plural.
Ex: tomboy's feet - tomboy's feet
sponge cake – sponge cake
headless mule - headless mule
coffee with milk – coffee with milk
* When the word is formed by onomatopoeias, that is, terms that imitate some sounds, such as: rá rá – laugh, tic-tac – clock, buá – cry, only the second element remains in the plural.
Ex: reco-reco - reco-reco
ticking - ticking
ping pong – ping pong
optics optics
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