16.1 Do these compounds have main stress on their first part or their second part? Underline the syllable with the main stress. (Hint: Think about whether they are noun + noun compounds or adjective + noun compounds.)
EXAMPLES: safety valve (noun + noun)
guilty party (adjective + noun)
1 chemical formula 5 coffee shop 9 sofa bed
2 bank account 6 best man 10 magnetic field
3 American football 7 mobile phone 11 tea strainer
4 artificial intelligence 8 flight attendant 12 space station
Now listen and check your answers. Then say the words aloud.
16.2 Use the compounds in the box to answer the questions. Think carefully about where main stress is placed and say your answers aloud. (Some of the words are given in B and C opposite.)
boiling point civil war claim form defining moment dental floss
distance learning greenhouse hot potato house-hunting ice rink
lipstick loudspeaker orange juice pay phone rubber band
search party shop assistant towel town hall voicemail
What is…
- a system that records phone messages for you?
- a sheet of thick paper for drying your hands?
- battles between different groups of people living in the same country?
- a building made of glass used for growing plants?
- a level area of ice for people to skate on?
- a way of studying where you mainly study at home?
- a piece of equipment that sound comes out of?
- a problem that no-one wants to deal with?
- a legal document that you use to try to get compensation from an organisation?
- the activity of looking for a house to live in?
- a building where the local government usually meets?
- a public telephone that you have to put money in to use?
- a point at which a situation clearly starts to change?
- a drink made from crushed oranges?
- a coloured substance that women put on their lips?
- the temperature at which liquid becomes a gas?
- a group of people who look for someone who is missing?
- someone who serves customers in a shop?
- thread used for cleaning between the teeth?
- a ring of rubber for holding things together?
Now listen and check your answers. Which five compounds are exceptions to the rules in B and C opposite?