Compound adjectives in English
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Compound Adjectives in English
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Adjectives describe nouns or follow linking verbs like be, look, or smell.Compound adjectives combine two or more words into a single descriptive unit—usually joined by hyphens when they come before a noun.
🟦 What Are Compound Adjectives?
Compound adjectives are multi-word descriptors that act as one idea. They are typically hyphenated before a noun, but often written separately after a verb.
- He is a well-known actor. ✅ (before noun → hyphenated)
- This actor is well known for his performances. ✅ (after verb → no hyphen)
💡 Hyphens prevent confusion!
- He is a large truck driver. → The driver is large.
- He is a large-truck driver. → He drives large trucks.
- an old book collector → the collector is oldan old-book collector → collects old books
🟩 Important Rule: Nouns in Compound Adjectives Are Always Singular
Even if the meaning is plural, the noun part stays singular because adjectives don’t have plural forms in English.
- ❌ I had a 2-minutes break.
- ✅ I had a two-minute break.
- ❌ Ken has a three-bedrooms house.
- ✅ Ken has a three-bedroom house.
🟪 Common Types of Compound Adjectives
➤ Adjective + Present Participle
- long-lasting battery
- easy-going student
- good-looking boyfriend
- slow-moving train
➤ Adjective + Past Participle
- short-haired woman
- old-fashioned ideas
- short-lived relationship
- ready-made meals
➤ Adjective + Noun
- long-distance runner
- last-minute decision
- short-term contract
- high-quality product
➤ Noun + Present Participle
- time-consuming task
- English-speaking country
- mouth-watering meal
- thought-provoking lecture
➤ Noun + Past Participle
- home-made bread
- sun-dried tomatoes
- middle-aged man
- wind-powered boat
➤ Noun + Adjective
- ice-cold beer
- world-famous author
- sugar-free diet
- iron-rich vegetable
➤ Adverb + Past Participle
- well-educated woman
- highly-respected man
- well-behaved boys
- brightly-lit room
➤ Number + Noun
- five-minute break
- one-year contract
- six-storey building
- two-room flat
➤ Number + Body Part + -ed
- eight-legged spider
- one-eyed creature
- one-armed man
- three-horned rhinoceros
🟨 Three (or More) Word Compound Adjectives
Longer compound adjectives are also hyphenated as a single unit.
- a two-year-old daughter
- state-of-the-art technology