Compound Adjectives

 A compound adjective is an adjective which is made up of two parts and usually written with hyphen.
Eg. Well – dressed, never – ending, etc. Its meaning is usually clear from the word it combines.
 The second part of the compound adjective is frequently a present or past participle.
 A large number of compound adjectives describe personal appearance.
Eg. Curly – haired, thin – lipped, sun – tanned, blue – eyed, long –legged, etc.
 Another set of compound adjectives describes a person’s character.
Eg. Absent - minded, Easy - going, good - tempered, warm – hearted, quick – witted, etc.
 The next one is where the second part is a preposition. Eg.
An all - out strike
A burnt - out car
A broken – down bus
A built – up area
A well – off gentleman
A drive – in - theatre
 Some more compound Adjectives
Record – breaking, bullet – proof, long – distance, fool – proof, drip – dry, so – called, part – time, world
– famous, time – consuming, long – standing, interest – free, etc.
 You can vary the compound adjectives listed by changing one part of the adjective. Eg.
Curly – haired can be changed as red – haired, straight – haired, etc.
Assignment
Answer the questions by using a compound adjectives which is opposite in meaning to the adjective in
question. Note that the answer may or may not have the same element as in the adjective in the question.
1. Isn’t she rather short – sighted
2. Is your brother well behaved
3. Are your shoes high – heeled
Fill each of the blanks to form a new adjective
4. eyed
5. made
6. proof
7. necked
8. headed
9. hearted
Answers
1. Long - sighted
2. Badly - behaved
3. Flat - heeled
4. Blue – eyed
5. self – made
6. fool – proof
7. Long – necked
8. Strong – headed
9. warm – hearted