Compound Adjectives 

Discover the rules for using compound adjectives like 'state-of-the-art' and 'free-spirited'. Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.

What Are Compound Adjectives?

What Are Compound Adjectives?

Compound adjectives are made up of multiple individual words that are used as one single adjective. The words are most commonly connected by a hyphen when used as adjectives.

Compound Adjectives: Function

Like other adjectives, compound adjectives are used to modify nouns and pronouns, and they often appear directly before the word they modify or after a linking verb. Have a look:

Before the Noun (Attributive Position): Compound adjectives placed before the noun modify the noun directly and provide additional information about it. For example:

Example

She used old-fashioned dresses to represent the style of the eighteenth century.

After the Noun (Predicative Position): Compound adjectives placed after the noun and a linking verb (e.g., 'are,' 'is,' 'seem') function as predicate adjectives, describing the subject of the sentence. For example:

Example

They were hard-working.

Compound Adjectives: Structure

Compound adjectives can have different structures, some of the most common ones are:

Noun + Adjective

Adjective + Adjective

Adjective + Noun

Adverb + Adjective

Preposition + Noun

Noun + Adjective

Sometimes if you add a noun to an adjective, a new word is created that can be used as a compound adjective to modify another noun. In this case, the compound adjective is usually hyphenated. For example:

Example

The water is ice-cold.

She had sky-blue eyes.

I felt awfully seasick.

The food was really mouth-watering.

Noun + present participle (adjective).

His behavior was self-effacing.

When there is a combination of a noun and a present participle (adjective), the compound adjective is always hyphenated.

Sun-dried tomatoes have an intense sweet-tart flavor.

Noun + past participle (adjective).

She's a homegrown pop artist.

Noun + past participle (adjective).

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Tip!

Some compound adjectives are written as single words without hyphens or spaces when they are widely accepted. They are called closed compound adjectives. Here are the examples:

Example

I was homesick for France.

As you can see, the lack of a hyphen indicates that the two parts of the compound adjective have fused together, forming a single word.

Adjective + Adjective

These compound adjectives are formed by combining two adjectives to describe a noun. They work together to provide more specific information about the noun they modify and they are typically hyphenated. Here are a few examples:

Example

The chicken is double-baked.

Adjective + past participle (adjective)

The high-pitched whistle hurt my ears.

Adjective + past participle (adjective)

She wore a blue-green dress to the party.

Adjective + Noun

This type of compound adjective is created when an adjective and a noun are joined together to describe a noun, often indicating a specific quality or characteristic. These compound adjectives are usually hyphenated. Here are some examples:

Example

I bought a low-fat yogurt.

Many blue-collar workers in the factory have been with the company for years.

He made a last-minute decision to join the trip.

Adverb + Adjective

These compound adjectives are formed by adding an adverb to a past participle (adjective) to describe a noun in a more detailed way. Have a look:

Example

She comes from a well-educated family.

Tokyo is one of the most densely-populated cities in the world.

The actor is so well-known that he gets recognized wherever he goes.

The ill-tempered cat hissed at everyone who came near.

Tip!

Sometimes there is a space between the adverb and the past participle, in which case the phrase is not a compound adjective. Check out the example:

Example

She carefully washed the dishes. → not a compound adjective

Preposition + Noun

Some of these compound adjectives are made from a preposition plus a noun. Take a look:

Example

The product's price tag does not include after-tax costs.

The in-service training program provided valuable skills for the employees.

Tip!

Most compound adjectives consist of two words; however, they can consist of more:

Example

Some over-the-counter drugs relieve aches, pains, and itches.

As you can see, 'the' is a definite article used to specify a particular counter, and "counter" refers to a physical or figurative surface or location where transactions or interactions take place.

Punctuation Rules

Compound adjectives are mostly hyphenated. The use of hyphens in compound adjectives can be a source of confusion in English writing. Here are some guidelines to help you understand when to hyphenate compound adjectives:

Adjective-Noun Combinations: Compound adjectives formed by combining an adjective and a noun are often hyphenated. For example:

Example

High-tech gadgets

Low-income families

Adjective-Adjective Combinations: When two adjectives are used together to modify a noun, they are typically hyphenated. For example:

Example

Blue-eyed girl

Time and Age Expressions: Compound adjectives involving time or age expressions are usually hyphenated. For example:

Example

Ten-minute break

Two-year project

Adjectives of Compound Verbs

Some adjectives are formed from past participle forms of compound verbs, which are used as adjectives. These adjectives are written as single words, but they are not considered compound adjectives. Here are the examples:

Example

The meat is undercooked. → not a compound adjective

Here, the adjective 'undercooked' is derived from the verb 'undercook', so, it is not a compound adjective.

The city was overpopulated. → not a compound adjective

Here, the adjective overpopulated is derived from the compound verb 'overpopulate.'

Warning

A compound adjective should be able to function as a subject complement. If a group of words meets this criterion, then it is a compound adjective. Otherwise, it is another type of phrase. Pay attention to the examples:

Example

This is a mind-blowing movie. → This movie is mind-blowing. (subject complement)

Comments

(3)
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Ngọc Châu
Sep 2023
Excuse me, I don't understand the reason why thirty-year-old is not a subject complement. Because I think it is required by verb ''is'' in the sentence " He is thirty-year-old''. Thank you!
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Langeek
Sep 2023
Thank you for your question! In the sentence 'He is thirty-year-old,' you're right that there's a linking verb 'is.' However, 'thirty-year-old' still functions as a compound adjective describing the subject's age. Subject complements typically follow linking verbs and describe a characteristic of the subject, like 'She is young.'
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Dec 2022
I think it would be good to add what a HYPHEN is and WHY is it used on certain compound adjectives versus others. Even if students are advanced, they may not been taught about how to use HYPHEN in words correctly because it not Heavily stressed punctuation in the ESL curriculum. They may just aware of for general purposes. this just my opinion from from an ESL teacher who teaches all levels. Thanks. :)
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