Compound Adjectives - The Adjective

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Compound Adjectives

Compound Adjectives are generally formed by combining two or more words together. Here both these words are linked with a hyphen to avoid any kind of confusion and ambiguity.

Just observe the following sentences to know the importance of the hyphen. (small dash)

There is a man eating lion.
There is a man-eating lion.

In the first sentence without a hyphen, we get the meaning that man is eating the lion.

In the second sentence with a hyphen, we get the meaning that it is the lion that eats men.

Examples:

baby-faced, brand-new, bow-legged, broken-hearted, bull-headed, candy-stripped, co-operative, four-sided, freckle-faced, hard-hearted, hard-nosed, heavy-handed, high-heeled, ice-cold, ill-mannered, left-handed, life-giving, life-saving, long-legged, long-winded, man-eating, middle-aged, next-door, pigeon-toed, red-blooded, self-centered, self-made, short-tempered, short-sighted, sure-footed, thin-skinned, tight-fisted, three-headed, well-being, whole-hearted, up-to-date, etc.

Let us see some common ways to form these.

Compound Adjectives with (number + noun)

Examples:

nine-inch heels
four-step guide
five-minute talk
ten-day tour
ten-page brochure
10000-word letter
three-week vacation
40-minute drive
four-year relationship

Compound Adjectives with (number + noun + adjective)

Examples:

7-year-old friendship
69-year-old neighbour
four-year-old building
one-year-old car
seven-month-old babe

Compound Adjectives with (Noun + Adjective)

Examples:

world-famous writer
worry-free sleep
colour-sensitive care
smoke-free area
brand-new shirt
fat-free oil
life-long friendship
rock-solid strength
chocolate-brown colour

Compound Adjectives with (Adjective + Noun)

Examples:

fast-food restaurant
all-day comfort
true-life drama
deep-water vessel
long-life health
third-party coverage
last-minute decision
full-length story
laser-cut shoes
high-tech thoughts

Compound Adjectives with ( Noun + Noun)

Examples:

goody-goody picture
mother-daughter affection
tip-top condition

Compound Adjectives with (Adjective + Adjective)

Examples:

extra-large shirt
extra-strong energy
purple-brown windows
north-west plot
super-confident person

Compound Adjectives with (Noun + Present Participle)

Examples:

mouth-watering dishes
record-breaking jump
energy-saving light bulbs
fun-loving story
life-changing moment
nail-biting habit
man-eating animal

Compound Adjectives with (Noun + Past Participle)

Examples:

sun-dried raisins
alcohol-based sanitizers
appearance-focused culture
berry-coloured suitcase
blood-stained clothes
calorie-controlled diet
coffee-coloured building
computer-based work

Compound Adjectives with (Adjective + Past Participle)

Examples:

old-fashioned taste
cold-blooded people
best-paid content writer
black painted nails
hard-earned money
less-lined writing
long-awaited return
middle-aged woman
ready-made juice

Compound Adjectives with (Adjective + Present Participle)

Examples:

good-looking lady
long-lasting memory
delicious-tasting meals
great-tasting ingredients
long-wearing lip balm
natural-looking appearance
slim-fitting trousers
sweet-smelling ingredients
healthy-eating plan

with (Adverb + Past Participle)

Examples:

brightly-lit room
well-known musician
densely-populated area
best-paid film director
hard-earned money
newly-born baby
long-awaited return

with (the word –style)

Examples:

cafe-style tea
kimono-style coat
nuclear-style destruction
retro-style piece
utility-style garments

with (Phrases)

Examples:

all-expenses-paid tour
all-in-one guide
back-to-nature experience
day-to-day performance
down-on-one-knee situation
down-to-earth statesman
easy-to-apply techniques
end-of-year event
fresh-from-the-sea ripples

Let us learn when to use a hyphen and when to avoid it. This is very important because to avoid any kind of confusion, we have to understand the clear use of the hyphen in the compound adjectives.

We use a hyphen before the noun:

Examples:

She submitted a hundred-page document.
They promoted a well-developed project.
This ten-year-old girl is an archery champion.
This is an easily-understood idea.
He is a world-famous writer.
This is a thought-provoking proverb.

We use no hyphen when we use the adjective predicatively after the subject.

Examples:

Her document is hundred pages long.
Their promoted project is well developed.
The archery champion is ten years old.
This idea is easily understood.
This writer is world famous.
This proverb is thought provoking.

We use no hyphen with comparative (-er) and superlative (-est) adjectives:

They are a better loving couple.
She is the tallest looking girl in the class.

Compound Adjective worksheets

A. Write the compound adjectives based on the given phrases.

A tour that takes one month: ______________________________

A book that contains 200 pages: _________________________________
This man is 87 years old : _________________________________
A drive that is of 50 minute: _________________________________
The teachers with high commitment:_________________________________

An alligator with sharp teeth: _________________________________
A man with white hair: _________________________________
This food is free form cholesterol: _________________________________
This lady has kind heart: _________________________________

10.The technology that saves money: _________________________________

The area that is free from smoke: _________________________________
There is a story with full length: _________________________________
Dishes that waters your mouth: _________________________________
The girl who looks good: _________________________________
Friendship that lasts a long time: _________________________________
The moment that changes life: _________________________________
The animal that eats men: _________________________________
The knife that is stained with blood:_________________________________

19 The sanitizer that is based on alcohol:________________________________

The diet that is controlled from calorie: ________________________________

B) Match the following words to form Compound Adjectives:

1.Blood	a) based
2.Bullet	b) born
3.Brand	c) changing
4.Computer	d) proof
5.Down	e) by-step
6.Easy	f) catching
7.Extra	g) new
8.Eye	h) eating
9.Four	i) fashioned
10.Full	j) fat
11.Good	k) fitting
12.Life	l) watering
13.Long	m) large
14.Low	n) life
15.Man	o) year-old
16.Mouth	p) looking
17.Newly	q) minded
18.North	r) west
19.Old	s) smelling
20.Open	t) solving
21.Problem	u) stained
22.Real	v) term
23.Skin	w) tight
24.Slim	x) time
25.Step	y) to-apply
26.Sweet	z) to-earth