These compound adjectives are useful because they allow us to express specific qualities or characteristics in a concise and efficient way. By understanding compound adjectives, you can enhance your writing and communication skills by providing more descriptive details about the nouns you’re talking about.
What is a Compound Adjective?
A compound adjective is made up of two or more words that work together to describe or modify a noun. These words come together to form a single idea or meaning. When combined, they create a new word that functions as an adjective to give more information about the noun.
For example, let’s take the words “blue” and “eyed.” Separately, they are both adjectives that describe something’s color or appearance. However, when we combine them as “blue-eyed,” they become a compound adjective that describes a person with blue eyes. The two words work together to give a more specific and detailed description of the noun (in this case, a person).
Compound adjectives can be formed in different ways. They can be created by combining an adjective with a noun (e.g., time-consuming), an adverb with a past participle (e.g., well-known), or a noun with a present participle (e.g., money-saving).
Formation of compound adjectives
Compound adjectives can be formed by combining different types of words, such as adjectives, nouns, adverbs, and participles. Let’s look at some common ways these combinations happen:
1. Adjective + Noun:
When an adjective is combined with a noun, it creates a compound adjective that describes the noun. For example, “red apple,” “happy child,” or “big city.”
2. Adverb + Past Participle:
When an adverb (a word that describes how an action is done) is combined with a past participle (the form of a verb used in the past tense or as an adjective), it forms a compound adjective. For example, “well-known actor,” “highly-rated movie,” or “deep-fried chicken.”
3. Noun + Present Participle:
When a noun is combined with a present participle (the -ing form of a verb), it creates a compound adjective. For example, “time-saving technique,” “money-making opportunity,” or “energy-saving device.”
4. Noun + Adjective:
When a noun is combined with an adjective, it forms a compound adjective that describes the noun. For example, “coffee table,” “book cover,” or “car engine.”
5. Adjective + Adjective:
Two adjectives can be combined to form a compound adjective that provides a more detailed description. For example, “dark blue,” “bright red,” or “tall skinny.”
6. Adjective + Verb:
When an adjective is combined with a verb, it creates a compound adjective that describes the noun. For example, “hardworking student,” “fast-paced environment,” or “open-minded person.”
7. Noun + Noun:
Two nouns can be combined to create a compound adjective that describes the noun. For example, “student athlete,” “chocolate cake,” or “business meeting.”
8. Noun + Preposition + Noun:
When a noun is connected to another noun through a preposition, they form a compound adjective. For example, “city of gold” or “house with a garden.”
9. Adjective + Preposition + Noun:
An adjective combined with a preposition and a noun creates a compound adjective. For example, “afraid of heights” or “interested in art.”
10. Adjective + Preposition + Gerund:
When an adjective is followed by a preposition and a gerund (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun), it forms a compound adjective. For example, “fascinated by flying” or “surprised by his singing.”
11. Adjective + Noun + -ed:
An adjective followed by a noun and the suffix -ed creates a compound adjective. For example, “money-minded person” or “technology-focused industry.”
Examples of compound adjectives in sentences
The little girl had beautiful blue eyes.
“Beautiful blue” is a compound adjective describing the eyes of the little girl. It combines the adjective “beautiful” and the adjective “blue” to provide a more specific and detailed description of the eyes.
We enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal.
“Home-cooked” is a compound adjective describing the meal. It combines the adjective “home” and the past participle “cooked” to indicate that the meal was prepared at home, emphasizing its freshness and quality.
The fast-paced action movie kept us on the edge of our seats.
“Fast-paced” is a compound adjective describing the action movie. It combines the adjective “fast” and the past participle “paced” to convey that the movie had a quick and intense rhythm, keeping the audience engaged and excited.
She lives in a two-story house.
“Two-story” is a compound adjective describing the house. It combines the noun “two” and the noun “story” to indicate that the house has two levels or floors.
He is a well-known author in the literary world.
“Well-known” is a compound adjective describing the author. It combines the adverb “well” and the past participle “known” to indicate that the author is widely recognized and famous in the literary world.
We took a scenic mountain hike.
“Scenic” is a compound adjective describing the mountain hike. It describes the hike as having beautiful or picturesque views, emphasizing the visual appeal of the scenery.
The old-fashioned car caught everyone’s attention.
“Old-fashioned” is a compound adjective describing the car. It combines the adjective “old” and the participle “fashioned” to indicate that the car is from a previous era, often associated with a vintage or nostalgic style.
She has a part-time job to support her studies.
“Part-time” is a compound adjective describing the job. It indicates that the job is not full-time but rather involves working for a limited number of hours per week, allowing the person to balance it with other commitments like studying.
The sunflower field was breathtakingly vast.
“Breathtakingly vast” is a compound adjective describing the sunflower field. It combines the adverb “breathtakingly” and the adjective “vast” to convey that the field was extremely large and awe-inspiring.
It was a heartwarming gesture from a stranger.
“Heartwarming” is a compound adjective describing the gesture. It combines the noun “heart” and the present participle “warming” to indicate that the gesture evoked positive emotions and touched the heart.
The hardworking student received top honors.
“Hardworking” is a compound adjective describing the student. It conveys that the student is diligent, puts in a lot of effort, and is committed to their studies.
The brand-new laptop is lightning-fast.
“Brand-new” and “lightning-fast” are compound adjectives describing the laptop. “Brand-new” indicates that the laptop is completely new and unused. “Lightning-fast” emphasizes that the laptop operates very quickly or has fast performance.
We stayed at a five-star hotel during our vacation.
“Five-star” is a compound adjective describing the hotel. It indicates that the hotel has the highest rating or quality, often associated with luxury amenities and exceptional service.
More examples
Adjective + Noun:
a. Red apple
b. Happy child
c. Big city
d. Cold water
e. Bright sunshine
Adverb + Past Participle:
a. Well-known actor
b. Highly-rated movie
c. Deep-fried chicken
d. Carefully crafted artwork
e. Perfectly cooked steak
Noun + Present Participle:
a. Time-saving technique
b. Money-making opportunity
c. Energy-saving device
d. Labor-intensive project
e. Traffic-congested road
Noun + Adjective:
a. Coffee table
b. Book cover
c. Car engine
d. School bus
e. Tennis racket
Adjective + Adjective:
a. Dark blue
b. Bright red
c. Tall skinny
d. Sweet-smelling
e. Soft-spoken
Adjective + Verb:
a. Hardworking student
b. Fast-paced environment
c. Open-minded person
d. Cold-hearted individual
e. Quick-thinking response
Noun + Noun:
a. Student athlete
b. Chocolate cake
c. Business meeting
d. Rainy day
e. Coffee shop
Noun + Preposition + Noun:
a. City of gold
b. House with a garden
c. Book about history
d. Bridge over the river
e. Office for rent
Adjective + Preposition + Noun:
a. Afraid of heights
b. Interested in art
c. Excited about the trip
d. Proud of her achievements
e. Focused on the task
Adjective + Preposition + Gerund:
a. Fascinated by flying
b. Surprised by his singing
c. Puzzled by the question
d. Amazed by her dancing
e. Delighted by the performance
Adjective + Noun + -ed:
a. Money-minded person
b. Technology-focused industry
c. Nature-inspired artwork
d. Adventure-filled book
e. Fun-filled party
Proper usage and placement of compound adjectives
Here are the proper usage and placement of compound adjectives:
1. Placement before a noun: In most cases, compound adjectives are placed before the noun they are modifying. For example, “a red apple,” “a beautiful sunset,” or “an interesting book.” By placing the compound adjective before the noun, it helps provide specific details and clarifies the characteristics of the noun.
2. Hyphenation: When a compound adjective is made up of two or more words, it is usually hyphenated to indicate that they work together as a single idea. For example, “well-known author,” “time-consuming task,” or “high-speed train.” Hyphenation helps avoid confusion and ensures that the words are seen as a unit modifying the noun.
3. No hyphenation: Some compound adjectives do not require hyphenation, especially when the meaning is clear without it. For example, “red apple,” “tall building,” or “happy child.” If the compound adjective is well understood and unambiguous without the hyphen, it can be written without one.
4. Agreement with the noun: Compound adjectives should agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. For example, “a red apple” (singular), “red apples” (plural), “a tall building” (singular), or “tall buildings” (plural). The compound adjective should match the noun in terms of singular/plural form and gender (if applicable).
5. Using commas: In some cases, a comma can be used to separate multiple compound adjectives that modify the same noun. For example, “a large, comfortable, and modern sofa.” The commas help distinguish between each compound adjective and prevent confusion.
Hyphenation rules for compound adjectives
Here are some simple rules for hyphenating compound adjectives:
1. Adjective + Noun: When an adjective is combined with a noun to form a compound adjective, it is generally not hyphenated. For example, “red apple” or “tall building.” This is because the meaning is clear without a hyphen, and the two words work together to modify the noun.
2. Adjective + Present Participle: When an adjective is followed by a present participle (-ing form of a verb) to create a compound adjective, it is typically not hyphenated. For example, “interesting book” or “fascinating story.” The combination of the adjective and the present participle provides a specific description without needing a hyphen.
3. Adjective + Adjective: When two adjectives are combined to form a compound adjective, they are usually hyphenated. For example, “hard-working student” or “bright-red apple.” The hyphen helps to show that the two words are working together to modify the noun as a single idea.
4. Adverb + Adjective: When an adverb is used to modify an adjective, they are generally not hyphenated. For example, “very tall person” or “extremely beautiful artwork.” The adverb is providing additional information about the adjective without the need for a hyphen.
5. Numbers + Noun: When numbers are used as part of a compound adjective before a noun, they are typically hyphenated. For example, “five-star hotel” or “two-story house.” The hyphen helps to indicate that the number and the following noun are working together to modify another noun.
Exercises to practice
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the appropriate compound adjective:
- She wore a ______________ dress to the party. (blue, long)
- The ______________ students received certificates for their achievements. (hardworking, dedicated)
- The ______________ movie kept the audience engaged till the end. (action-packed, thrilling)
- He lives in a ______________ house in the countryside. (quaint, little)
- It was a ______________ journey through the dense forest. (adventurous, exciting)
Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences by adding a compound adjective:
- He is a student. (hardworking)
- They found a job. (well-paying)
- She has a voice. (beautiful)
- The house has a view. (breathtaking)
- The project is. (time-consuming)
Answers:
Exercise 1:
- She wore a long blue dress to the party.
- The dedicated and hardworking students received certificates for their achievements.
- The thrilling and action-packed movie kept the audience engaged till the end.
- He lives in a little quaint house in the countryside.
- It was an adventurous and exciting journey through the dense forest.
Exercise 2:
- He is a hardworking student.
- They found a well-paying job.
- She has a beautiful voice.
- The house has a breathtaking view.
- The project is time-consuming.
