parts of speech of "root rot"

Status
Not open for further replies.

hela

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2004
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Tunisia
Current Location
Tunisia
Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me how you would parse the following compounds ?

- However, do not overwater or let the plant sit in water since they are susceptible to (a) root rot and there is no "cure" for (b) root rot.

- The disease which infected the trees is (c) root rot.

a) compound verb made up of "root" a noun used as an adverb (?) + "rot" verb.
b + c) compound nouns made up of "root" a noun used as an adjective + "rot" noun.

Thank you for your help and best wishes.
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
No, it is a noun (root) used as an adjective (for the noun rot).
 

Frank Antonson1

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
The second, I think. Two nouns together. As in "crotch rot", :)
 

hela

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2004
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Tunisia
Current Location
Tunisia
So in all three cases "root rot" is a compound noun: "root" a noun used as adjective, and "rot" a noun ?

Thanks again
 

Frank Antonson1

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
To decide whether or not a compound noun is one item or a noun modified by an adjective, or two nouns, e.g. "dog house", I defer to a dictionary and look to see if the words are given as a single entry.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top