Compound Adjectives: Combining Words to Describe Nouns

What are Compound Adjectives?

A compound adjective is a descriptive phrase made up of two or more words that together function as a single adjective to modify a noun. These words are often connected by hyphens, especially when they come before the noun they describe. For example, in the phrase "well-known author," "well-known" is a compound adjective that describes the author. Compound adjectives help add specificity and detail to sentences.

Compound Adjectives List:

This table presents the compound adjectives along with example sentences to illustrate their use.

Types of Compound Adjectives with Examples

• Well-known - She is a well-known author.

• Part-time - He works as a part-time teacher.

• High-speed - The train has a high-speed connection.

• Free-flowing - The river is free-flowing in the summer.

• User-friendly - This software is very user-friendly.

• Open-minded - He is open-minded about new ideas.

• Cost-effective - They chose a cost-effective solution for their problem.

• Long-term - They have a long-term plan for the business.

• Middle-aged - The middle-aged man is an experienced professional.

• Four-year-old - They have a four-year-old daughter.

• Old-fashioned - She prefers old-fashioned clothing.

• Full-time - He has a full-time job.

• Short-tempered - He is known to be short-tempered.

• Fast-growing - The company is fast-growing in the tech industry.

• Well-educated - She comes from a well-educated family.

• Broken-hearted - He was broken-hearted after the loss.

• Sun-dried - They sell sun-dried tomatoes.

• High-tech - The new office is equipped with high-tech gadgets.

• Cold-blooded - The crime was committed in a cold-blooded manner.

• Low-maintenance - This plant is low-maintenance and easy to care for.

Types of Compound Adjectives with Examples Sentences

Here are the types of compound adjectives with three examples for each:

1. Noun + Adjective

• Ice-cold drink

• Sugar-free candy

• Smoke-free environment

2. Adjective + Noun

• Full-time job

• High-risk investment

• Last-minute decision

3. Adjective + Adjective

• Bitter-sweet memory

• Blue-green eyes

• Dark-blue dress

4. Adverb + Past Participle

• Well-known author

• Widely-used method

• Deeply-rooted tradition

5. Adverb + Adjective

• Highly-respected teacher

• Well-prepared student

• Poorly-maintained road

6. Noun + Present Participle

• Time-saving tips

• Mind-blowing experience

• Heart-warming story

7. Number + Noun

• Two-year-old child

• Five-star hotel

• Ten-minute break

8. Noun + Past Participle

• Sun-dried tomatoes

• Hand-made jewellery

• Mass-produced goods

9. Adjective + Past Participle

• Old-fashioned dress

• Cold-blooded animal

• Open-minded person

10. Noun + Noun

• User-friendly interface

• World-class athlete

• High-school student

Difference Between Compound Adjectives and Compound Nouns:

This comparison should help students understand the differences between compound adjectives and Compound Nouns

Compound Adjectives Sentences:

Here are some sentences using compound adjectives:

1. High-speed trains are revolutionising travel in many countries.

2. She wore a well-tailored suit to the job interview.

3. The long-term effects of the new policy are still being studied.

4. His old-fashioned manners were a hit at the formal dinner.

5. They moved into a state-of-the-art apartment with all the latest technology.

6. The hard-working team finished the project ahead of schedule.

7. The fast-paced game kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

8. The user-friendly software made it easy for everyone to learn.

9. She has a good-natured personality that everyone appreciates.

10. The high-quality ingredients made the dish stand out.

11. He bought a three-bedroom house in a quiet neighbourhood.

12. The part-time job offered flexible hours that suited her schedule.

Test Your Understanding of Compound Adjectives

Here are some exercises to test your understanding of compound adjectives:

Exercise 1: Identify the Compound Adjectives

Identify the compound adjectives in the following sentences:

1. She lives in a high-rise building.

2. The fast-paced movie kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

3. It's a well-known fact that exercise is good for your health.

4. He gave me a last-minute invitation to the party.

5. The long-term effects of the medicine are still unknown.

Exercise 2: Create Sentences Using Compound Adjectives

Create your sentences using the following compound adjectives:

1. Part-time

2. User-friendly

3. Full-time

4. Old-fashioned

5. Cold-hearted

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct compound adjective:

1. She is a ________ (hard-working, high-energy) student who always finishes her assignments on time.

2. The ________ (time-saving, last-minute) gadget helped us finish the project quickly.

3. The ________ (high-quality, well-known) chef prepared a delicious meal for us.

4. The ________ (blue-eyed, open-minded) teacher encouraged all opinions in the class discussion.

5. The ________ (well-behaved, quick-thinking) child received praise for his manners.

Exercise 4: Correct the Sentences

Correct any errors related to compound adjectives in the following sentences:

1. He is a well known author who has written many books.

2. The five year-old child is very intelligent.

3. They have a long term plan to improve the company.

4. She wore a blue silk dress to the party.

5. The fast paced lifestyle in the city can be exhausting.

Exercise 5: Match the Halves

Match the first half of the compound adjective with the second half:

1. High- | a. fashioned

2. Well- | b. paid

3. Cold- | c. known

4. Full- | d. rise

5. Old- | e. Hearted

Find Out if You Got them All Right from the Answers Below

Here are the answers to the exercises on compound adjectives:

Exercise 1: Identify the Compound Adjectives

1. high-rise building

2. fast-paced movie

3. well-known fact

4. last-minute invitation

5. long-term effects

Exercise 2: Create Sentences Using Compound Adjectives

Here are example sentences:

1. She found a part-time job while studying at university.

2. The new software is very user-friendly and easy to navigate.

3. He works as a full-time teacher at the local school.

4. My grandmother loves old-fashioned recipes.

5. His cold-hearted response shocked everyone.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

1. She is a hard-working student who always finishes her assignments on time.

2. The time-saving gadget helped us finish the project quickly.

3. The high-quality chef prepared a delicious meal for us.

4. The open-minded teacher encouraged all opinions in the class discussion.

5. The well-behaved child received praise for his manners.

Exercise 4: Correct the Sentences

1. He is a well-known author who has written many books.

2. The five-year-old child is very intelligent.

3. They have a long-term plan to improve the company.

4. She wore a blue-silk dress to the party.

5. The fast-paced lifestyle in the city can be exhausting.

Exercise 5: Match the Halves

1. High- | d. rise → High-rise

2. Well- | c. known → Well-known

3. Cold- | e. hearted → Cold-hearted

4. Full- | b. paid → Full-paid

5. Old- | a. fashioned → Old-fashioned

Takeaway from this Page:

• Understanding the Structure: Compound adjectives are formed by combining two or more words to modify a noun, providing a more specific description.

• Hyphenation Rules: These adjectives are often hyphenated when used before a noun to avoid ambiguity, ensuring clarity in writing.

• Examples in Daily Use: Common examples include "well-known," "high-quality," and "fast-paced," all of which offer more precise details than a single adjective might.

• Practical Application: Mastery of compound adjectives enhances writing by making descriptions more vivid and engaging, which is particularly useful in both academic and professional contexts.

• Reviewing Usage: Practising with exercises helps solidify understanding, ensuring correct usage and improving overall writing skills.