Compound

Adjective
Prepared by Mr. Meyphalla Oudom
Tel: 070 42 33 37
FB: Phalla Oudom

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What is Compound Adjective?
A compound adjective is sometimes called a hyphenated
adjective. A compound adjective is an adjective that
contains two or more words.
In general we put a hyphen between two or more words
(before a noun) when we want them to act as a single idea
(adjective) that describes something.
Let's look at the following sentences:
 I saw a man-eating alligator.
 I saw a man eating alligator.
 The first sentence contains a compound adjective.
 The second sentence doesn't.
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What is Compound Adjective?
 Our office is in a twenty-store building.
 I have just finished reading a 300-page book.
 He is a well-known writer.
 This is a four-foot table.
 Daniella is a part-time worker.
 This is an all-too-common error.
 Beware of the green-eyed monster.
 He is a cold-blooded man.
 I love this brightly-lit room!
 Danny's dog is well-behaved.
 You have to be open-minded about things.
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Types of Compound Adjective
There are many types of Compound Adjectives. Here is a list of the
most common types:
 Periods of Time
 Adverbs and Compound Adjectives
 Adverb + Past Participle
 Noun + Past Participle
 Noun + Present Participle
 Noun + Adjective
 Adjective + Noun
 Adjective + Past Participle
 Adjective + Present Participle
 Compound Adjectives with Proper Nouns
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Periods of Time (number + a time period)

When he have compound adjectives using a number + a

time period, that word referring to a time period is in
singular form and is joined to the number with a hyphen.
Example:
 I work eight hours every day --> I work an eight-hour day
 I'm going on vacation for three weeks --> I have a three-
week vacation
 There was a delay of 5 seconds --> There was a five-
second delay
 Notice how we normally write the number as a word, not
in numerical form.

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Adverbs and Compound Adjectives

Adverbs modify a verb.

 She walks slowly.
 How does she walk? Slowly. Slowly is an adverb that modifies
(or describes) the verb.
Adverbs can also be used to modify an adjective.
 It is very hot today. (Very is an adverb)
 She is extremely intelligent. (Extremely is an adverb)
 Notice how we do not put a hyphen between an adverb and
an adjective (not even before a noun).
 It is a very hot day.
 She is an extremely intelligent girl.
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Adverb + Participle

However when we have an Adverb + participle, we put a

hyphen between the two words to make it a compound
adjective.
Example:
 This is a brightly-lit room.
 She is a well-known actress.
 We live in a densely-populated city.
 He has a friendly-sounding voice.
 She is a motherly-looking woman.

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Noun + Past Participle
When we have a noun + past participle, we put a hyphen
between the two words to make it a compound adjective.
Example:
 We should start using wind-powered generators to cut
costs.
 I love eating sun-dried raisins.

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Noun + Present Participle
When we have a noun + present participle, we put a
hyphen between the two words to make it a compound
adjective.
Example:
 I bought some mouth-watering strawberries.
 That was a record-breaking jump.

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Noun + Adjective
When we have a noun + adjective, we put a hyphen
between the two words to make it a compound adjective.
Example:
 She is a world-famous singer.
 This is a smoke-free restaurant.

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Adjective + Noun
When we have an adjective + noun, we put a hyphen
between the two words to make it a compound adjective.
Example:
 It was a last-minute decision.
 We watched the full-length version of the movie.

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Adjective + Past Participle
When we have an adjective + past participle, we put a
hyphen between the two words to make it a compound
adjective.
Example:
 That is an old-fashioned dress
 Reptiles are cold-blooded creatures.

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Adjective + Present Participle
When we have an adjective + present participle, we put a
hyphen between the two words to make it a compound
adjective.
Example:
 She is a good-looking girl.
 It left a long-lasting taste in my mouth.
 Who’s that good-looking guy over there ?

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Compound Adjectives with Proper Nouns
A proper noun is the name of something or someone (e.g.
John, Susan Sanders).
• Compound Adjectives made from Proper nouns don't need a
hyphen though must have capital letters.
Example:
 I bought the James Jackson tickets for us.
 James Jackson is a compound adjective describing the
tickets (What type of tickets? James Jackson tickets).
 Since the adjective is a Proper noun, we don't need a
hyphen between the two names.

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How do we know when to put a hyphen?

If you can use the word “and” between the two adjectives or words, then a
hyphen isn't necessary.
 She has a big blue book.
(Big and Blue are adjectives)
Can we say: She has a big and blue book. (Yes, it is possible)
 He is a world famous singer. (Is this correct?)
Can we say: He is a world and famous singer. No, it doesn't sound correct so we
need a hyphen to join the words world and famous:
 He is a world-famous singer. (Correct)
Also, look at the following:
 It's an old coal-mining town
 Notice how we didn't put a hyphen between the word old and coal. If we had
have done that, we would have been referring to old coal, as in coal that is old.
We want to emphasis that the town in old and not the coal.
 Here we can say it is old and a coal-mining one.
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Thanks for your
attentions! 

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