Word
TV show
Definition
compound. A program, like a story or a game, that you watch on television.
compound. A program, often serialized or part of a series, that is broadcast on television.
Examples
“What's your favorite TV show?”
“We watched the final episode of that TV show last night; it was amazing.”
“The critically acclaimed TV show explored complex historical themes with a nuance rarely seen on the small screen.”
Examples
simple
“What's your favorite TV show?”
contextual
“We watched the final episode of that TV show last night; it was amazing.”
complex
“The critically acclaimed TV show explored complex historical themes with a nuance rarely seen on the small screen.”
Usage
Often used interchangeably with 'TV series', especially for fictional dramas or comedies.
Teaching tip
Stress falls on the first word, 'TV', which is typical for compound nouns and distinguishes it from a simple adjective-noun phrase.
Pitfall
I watched a show TV last night.
I watched a TV show last night.
In this compound noun, 'TV' comes before 'show' to describe what kind of show it is.