Compound Adjectives - Lesson 2

COMPOUND ADJECTIVES (E I C: C 2 – UNIT 3: LESSON 2)
COMPOUND ADJECTIVES
DEFINITION. - A compound adjective is one that is made up of two words.
Normally, they are joined by a hyphen. (a horizontal line drawn that is shorter
than a dash).
ADJECTIVE + NOUN (ED)
single-minded: That has a clear objective and works as hard as possible
to achieve it.
thick-skinned: That is not very easily affected mentally or emotionally
by people’s comments or criticism.
kind-hearted: That is very giving and generous.
absent-minded: That forgets about simple things, usually for being
thinking about other things
Open-minded: That doesn’t have any prejudice or misconceptions
Narrow-minded: That has prejudice or misconceptions about things.
hot-headed: Impulsive.
hollow-cheeked: That has a very thin face.
strong-willed: Determined.
old-fashioned: That has characteristics of past generations either in
terms of mentality, personality or physical appearance.
cold-blooded: That has no feeling of remorse, guilt, compassion or
empathy.
1. Jack is so old-fashioned. He wears clothes that were popular in the 80s.

2. He was a very cold-blooded criminal. He’d killed 30 people during a party
including a pregnant woman.
Copyright © 2022 by Franklin Colmenares in Conjunction with English Language Center, Inc. All rights reserved.
Permission not granted to reproduce or alter in any manner.
1
ADJECTIVE + NOUN
Last-minute: That was done at the last moment.
Full-length: That hasn’t been edited or shortened.
1. It was a last-minute decision to include the top player of the team in

spite of his injury.
2. I have a lot of free time. I want to see the full-length movie.
ADJECTIVE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB
far-seeing: That is able to see from a far distance.
fast-moving: That moves fast
slow-moving: That moves slow
hard-working: That works hard or with a lot of effort
good-looking: That has a good physical appearance
free-thinking: That thinks positions about the truth should be
based on reasoning, logics and experience instead of
authority, tradition or revelation.
1. Jim’s a very hard-working man. He works full-time and takes work

home.
2. Janice’s a very good-looking girl. She’s a potential candidate to win the
beauty pageant.
2
NOUN + ADJECTIVE
Self-sufficient: That does things effectively without any help
Self-conscious: That is worried or nervous about people’s opinion.
World-famous: That’s famous all over the world.
Smoke-free: That doesn’t have any smoke, usually because it’s
not allowed.
1. I’d like to sit in the smoke-free area please. I can’t stand smoke.
2. Michael Jackson is really world-famous. There’s not a single person
who hasn’t heard of him.
NOUN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB
Mouth-watering: That makes one want to eat something.
Record-breaking: That sets a new record
Man-eating: That eats men
Fun-loving: That loves fun
Attention-craving That seeks to be the center of attention
1. That pizza looks so mouth-watering. I want to buy it.

2. Michelle is such an attention-craving girl. She wants everybody to pay
attention to her.
3
NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB

Sun-dried: That has been dried by the sun rays.
Sun-tanned: Skin that has turned into a nice brownish color by
the sun rays.
Weather-beaten: That has been damaged or altered from its original
form by extreme weather conditions.
1. The country man’s face was so weather-beaten. He had very deep

expression lines and spots on his face.
2. Jennifer is sun-tanned. She just got back from the beach.
NOUN + NOUN (ED)

level-headed: That has his / her feet on the ground. Not
impulsive
pig-headed: That doesn’t change his mind at all even if there’s a
logical reason for it.
1. The coach was really level-headed. His team was 6-0 ahead on the
scoreboard, and he was still calmed down.
4
NOUN + NOUN
Five-state: That has a relation with 5 states
Water-proof: That is resistant to water.
school-university: That has a relation between a school and a
university.
1. The university of Los Angeles and James K. Polk School have just signed
a school-university agreement.
NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB

Career-oriented: That is most of the time or always focused on
his / her work.
Grammar-oriented: That has a lot of grammar content or that
gives a lot of attention to grammar.
1. It was a very grammar-oriented test, so it was hard for the students.

NUMBER + PERIOD OF TIME
Eight-hour: That lasts eight hours
Thirty-minute: That lasts thirty minutes
five-year: That lasts five years
1. It was a 2-hour movie that we saw last night. I almost fell asleep.
5
NUMBER + NOUN
Two hundred-page: That has 200 pages
25-year old: That has existed for 25 years.
Five-star: That is rated with five stars (having an
excellent quality or service)
1. I have to read a 150-page novel for school.

2. The singer stayed at a five-star hotel. It was actually the best in the
city.
ADVERB + PAST PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB
well-known: That is known by a lot of people
densely-populated: That has a great number of inhabitants
carefully-made: That has been made with a lot care and
attention
1. China is very densely-populated. It has over 1 billion inhabitants.

VERB + ADJECTIVE
learn-fast: That can be learned fast
stand-offish: That is unfriendly or not so sociable.
1. It’s a learn-fast course. That’s why many people have signed up.
6
BONUS
VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE + PREPOSITION
Washed-out: Discolored due to being washed over and over
again
1. Jennifer has blond washed out hair.

2. My jeans are washed-out. I can’t even recognize its original color.

Compound Adjectives - Lesson 2

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COMPOUND ADJECTIVES (E I C: C 2 – UNIT 3: LESSON 2)

1. Jack is so old-fashioned. He wears clothes that were popular in the 80s.

1. It was a last-minute decision to include the top player of the team in

1. Jim’s a very hard-working man. He works full-time and takes work

1. That pizza looks so mouth-watering. I want to buy it.

NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB

1. The country man’s face was so weather-beaten. He had very deep

NOUN + NOUN (ED)

NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE FORM OF THE VERB

1. It was a very grammar-oriented test, so it was hard for the students.

1. I have to read a 150-page novel for school.

1. China is very densely-populated. It has over 1 billion inhabitants.

1. Jennifer has blond washed out hair.

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