GV

Compound Adjectives

Adjectives made from two or more words joined by hyphens

intermediate

When to Use Compound Adjectives

  • •Before a noun: a well-known author, a five-year-old child
  • •Number + noun combinations: a ten-minute walk, a three-bedroom house
  • •Adjective + noun combinations: a full-time job, a last-minute decision
  • •Adjective + participle: a good-looking man, a hard-working student
  • •Noun + participle: a time-consuming task, a heart-breaking story

How to Form Compound Adjectives

Affirmative (+)

Word-word + noun (hyphenate before noun)

Negative (-)

Not applicable

Question (?)

Not applicable

💡 Hyphenate compound adjectives BEFORE a noun. After a noun, usually no hyphen: The author is well known.

Examples of Compound Adjectives

✓She's a well-known actress.

✗She's a well known actress.

Compound adjective before noun needs hyphen.

✓The actress is well known.

✗The actress is well-known.

After the noun, no hyphen needed (though both are acceptable).

✓It's a two-hour flight.

✗It's a two-hours flight.

Number compounds use singular noun: two-hour, not two-hours.

Common Mistakes with Compound Adjectives

💡 Practice Tips for Compound Adjectives

  • • Before noun = hyphen; after noun = usually no hyphen
  • • Number compounds: singular noun (ten-minute, not ten-minutes)
  • • Common patterns: well-known, good-looking, hard-working
  • • Time/measurement: five-star, three-bedroom, two-hour
  • • Check dictionary for established compounds
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.She has a   daughter.
  2. 2.He's looking for a   job to fit around his studies.
  3. Question 3: Add a hyphen if needed: She's a well known author. → She's a blank author.
    3.Add a hyphen if needed: She's a well known author. → She's a author.
  4. Question 4: Add hyphenation if needed: It's a two hour flight. → It's a blank flight.
    4.Add hyphenation if needed: It's a two hour flight. → It's a flight.
  5. Question 5: Combine: a flight that lasts ten minutes → a blank flight.
    5.Combine: a flight that lasts ten minutes → a flight.
  6. Question 6: Without a hyphen: The author is well blank in academic circles.
    6.Without a hyphen: The author is well in academic circles.
  7. Question 7: Combine: a man who looks good → a blank man.
    7.Combine: a man who looks good → a man.
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