Both languages have compounds such as boathouse and Haustür. However, whereas in German all words are compounds, look like compounds and are compounds which consist of nouns only, English makes use of various strategies:
– The words are compounds but spelt in two words instead of one: art exhibition, front door
– The compounds consist of a noun and a verb in the ing-form: baking-powder, living-room (and are often hyphenated)
– The compounds consist of an adjective plus a noun: martial law, musical instrument, etc.
– A simple word, consisting of one morpheme only, corresponds to the German compound: capital, glove