Compound Adjectives: Definition, Types and Examples

Compound adjectives can sometimes be a tricky part of English grammar, but they are essential for clear and precise writing. In this reference, we will discuss what compound adjectives are, how to correctly form and use them, and useful examples of compound adjectives.

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What Are Compound Adjectives?

Compound adjectives are unique combinations of words that function together to describe nouns more specifically and vividly. They can combine different parts of speech like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs to enhance clarity and detail in communication. We use them to give precise descriptions.

For example, in “well-known author,” the words “well” and “known” come together to describe the author specifically.

These adjectives often use hyphens to link the words, showing they belong together, like in “high-speed chase.” They can be made from different combinations, such as noun + adjective (e.g., “sugar-free”) or adjective + participle (e.g., “good-looking”). Complex forms can even include adverbs, such as “quickly-changing market.”

Types of Compound Adjectives

Compound adjectives come in various forms. These can greatly enhance our writing by making descriptions more precise and interesting.

Hyphenated Compound Adjectives:

These are the most common type. Two or more words are connected by hyphens to function as a single adjective. For instance:

Well-known author
Five-star hotel
High-quality product

Closed Form Compound Adjectives:

In this type, words are combined without a hyphen or space. We see this frequently with numbers or short adjectives:

Worldwide network
Overconfident student
Homesick traveler

Open Form Compound Adjectives:

Sometimes, we use compound adjectives without hyphens. These are less common and often used with adverbs:

Easily available materials
Widely accepted theory
Slightly built man

Superlative Compound Adjectives:

These adjectives start with superlatives and are always hyphenated when placed before the noun:

Best-loved novels
Most-watched movies
Least-visited areas

Usage Rules for Compound Adjectives

When to Use Hyphens

Hyphens are crucial in compound adjectives. They link the words together so readers understand they’re functioning as one adjective. For example, in “well-known actor,” the hyphen shows “well” and “known” work together to modify “actor.”

Numbers and fractions in compound adjectives also need hyphens. We write “a ten-year-old child” and “a two-thirds majority.” Remember: Without hyphens, the meaning can be confusing or ambiguous.

We don’t use hyphens when compound adjectives come after the noun. We say “The actor is well known,” but “well-known actor.”

Modifiers and Compound Adjectives

Modifiers play a key role in forming compound adjectives. Modifiers can be nouns, adjectives, adverbs, or participles. For instance, in “full-time job,” “full” is a modifier for “time,” and together they describe “job.”

Modifiers help add detail and precision. In “part-time worker,” “part-time” gives more specific information about the type of worker. Words combined this way help create a clearer picture.

Compound Adjectives and Adverbs

Adverbs can complicate the use of compound adjectives. Adverbs ending in -ly do not use hyphens. For example, “a highly respected scientist” is correct without a hyphen.

When adverbs do not end in -ly, we usually do use hyphens. For example, “a well-known artist” uses a hyphen because “well” is an adverb not ending in -ly.

Difference between Compound Adjectives and Compound Nouns

Compound adjectives and compound nouns are essential parts of speech that help us add specific descriptions to our sentences.

Feature	Compound Adjectives	Compound Nouns
Role	Modifies a noun or pronoun	Acts as a noun
Structure	Usually hyphenated	Can be one word, hyphenated, or spaced
Examples	“well-known author”	“ice cream”

Examples of Compound Adjectives

Descriptive Compound Adjectives

Descriptive compound adjectives paint precise images. They usually combine an adjective with a noun or another adjective. For instance, “well-known author” uses “well-known” to describe the author.

Examples:

High-quality materials
Broken-down car
Mouth-watering recipes
Old-fashioned dress
Fast-paced thriller
Well-equipped kitchen
Sun-drenched beach
Blue-eyed girl
Soft-spoken teacher
Heart-warming story
Wind-swept hair
Long-term investment
Wide-eyed wonder
Cold-hearted villain

Numerical Compound Adjectives

Numerical compound adjectives include numbers to provide specific details about a noun. These often use hyphens to link the numbers with other words, ensuring clarity. An example is “two-story building,” where “two-story” describes the building.

Examples:

Three-day weekend
Five-star hotel
Ten-minute drive
Twenty-year mortgage
Four-wheel drive
Two-hour movie
Six-page report
Eight-year-old child
Twelve-month calendar
Seven-course meal
Nine-panel comic
Fifteen-minute break
Thirty-pound weight
One-way street

Practical Exercises on Compound Adjectives

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences by filling in the blanks with appropriate compound adjectives from the list below:

sun-drenched, well-equipped, two-hour, heart-warming, long-term, full-length, high-speed, last-minute, wide-eyed, ice-cold

After a long hike, they enjoyed the ________ water from the mountain stream.
The documentary provided a ________ discussion on the effects of climate change.
They boarded a ________ train to get to the city center.
The kids watched the fireworks with ________ wonder.
He made a ________ decision to join the trip, packing in a hurry.
The athlete’s biography is a ________ tale of resilience and determination.
She wore a beautiful ________ mirror in her room for daily outfits.
The plan needs a ________ review to ensure all aspects are covered.
She maintains her beauty by applying a ________ skincare routine every night.
His ________ approach has secured his financial future.