COMPOUND ADJECTIVES

COMPOUND ADJECTIVES

A compound adjective is a single adjective made up of more than one word. The words in a compound adjective are usually grouped together using hyphens to show it is a single adjective.

Read the following sentences, and pay attention to the underlined parts.

• The scissors are in the bottom-left drawer.

• Do you have any sugar-free cookies?

• His 11-year-old niece is coming to visit.

• It’s another record-breaking race for the Kenyan runner.

• He has an expensive-looking car.

Multiple Choice

A compound adjective is also known as a compound modifier or a phrasal adjective.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

A compound adjective is created by two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The words in a compound adjective are usually joined together by a hyphen (or hyphens) to clarify that the words are working as a single modifying unit.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Compound adjectives are made up of multiple words, and, in various combinations, they can be composed of adjectives, nouns, quantifiers, participles, and adverbs.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

If two or more adjectives are functioning together as a single unit, we must use hyphens.

For example:

Look in the top-right corner of the screen.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

It is very common to follow an adjective with a noun to create a compound adjective.

For example:

I can only find part-time work at the moment.

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Multiple Choice

When we use a quantifier with a noun to create a compound adjective, we often pair the quantifier with a noun of measurement (length, height, weight, age, or time).

For example:

It is the only 10-storey building in the town.

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Multiple Choice

Past and present participles can be paired with adjectives, nouns, and adverbs to form compound adjectives.

For example:

We need some forward-thinking individuals for the job.

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Multiple Choice

When the conjunction and is used between two words (usually nouns) to join them as a single modifier, we must hyphenate all three words.

For example:

These old stone-and-mortar buildings have stood the test of time.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Adverbs are often used in conjunction with adjectives to jointly modify a noun, but they are not really considered to be compound adjectives.

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• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Which punctuation mark do we use to create compound adjectives?

• comma

• semicolon

• hyphen

• period

Multiple Choice

Which of the following cannot be used to form compound adjectives?

• participles

• verbs

• nouns

• prepositions

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are not hyphenated when functioning as compound adjectives?

• proper nouns

• adjectives

• quantifiers

• pronouns

Multiple Choice

Identify the combination used to create the compound adjective (in green) in the following sentence.

“It was my well-educated apprentice who saved the day.”

• adjective + noun

• adverb + past participle

• adjective + past participle

• noun + adjective