H-L6U6: Compound Adjectives

Compound Adjectives

A walk that takes ten minutes
A boy who is five years old
A monster with green eyes
A man who writes with his left hand
An app that saves time

• A compound adjective is an adjective that has two or more words

  
  

• We join them together using hyphens (-) to indicate that it's functioning as one single word

We bought some tickets at the last minute to go to Hawai'i.
We bought some last-minute tickets to go to Hawai'i.



The sun dried the tomatoes the workers left on the table.
The sun-dried tomatoes on the table are ready to package.


Actors haven't really been well paid in recent years.
He is a well-paid CFO at an international company

Multiple Choice

For many, being able to buy their first drink is an essential rite of passage that means you're becoming an adult.

• coming-of-age

• coming-to-age

• coming-at-age

Multiple Choice

He is always handing in his work at the eleventh-hour.

• last-minute

• lastly-minute

• lasting-minute

Multiple Choice

Her clothes are a little outdated, but I still like her style.

• out-of-fashion

• out-fashioned

• old-fashioned

Multiple Choice

We just bought a house with three bedrooms.

• three-bedroom

• three-bedrooms

• with-three-beds

Number + noun / time period

Compound adjective that use a number + a time period or a noun, the word referring to the time period or the noun is always in singular form:

​eight-hour day
two-day trip

​74-year-old man
five-star hotel

*Keep in mind that in English, we spell out numbers from one to ten (e.g., one, two, three...) but for numbers 11 and above, we use their numerical representation.

Multiple Choice

The university boasts having one of the most current curriculums in the country.

• at-date

• up-dated

• up-to-date

Multiple Choice

Ryan Reynolds is a famous actor.

• well-knowing

• well-knew

• well-known

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Adjectives are usually placed before the nouns they modify, but when used with linking verbs (eg. the verb to be or verbs of perception), they're placed after the verb.

While studying, I had a part-time job at a museum.

Make sure the document is up to date before sending it.

**However, if a compound adjective is placed after a noun, it is often not hyphenated

Reorder

Reorder the following words to make a full sentence:

• I

• am

• a

• full-time

• student.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Reorder the following words to make a full sentence:

• The Eiffel Tower

• is

• a

• world-famous

• monument.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Reorder the following words to complete the sentence below.

___ at the community college, she only teaches a couple classes each week.

• She

• has

• a

• part-time

• job

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Reorder the following words to complete the sentence below:

___, so make sure you don't tell anyone.

• This

• information

• is

• top secret

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Reorder

Reorder the following words to make a full sentence.

• Snakes and lizards

• are

• cold-blooded

• animals

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

Everyone is really impressed that my dogs are so ___, they always follow my instructions.

• Old-fashion

• bad-mannered

• well-behaved

Multiple Choice

My homework last week was really ___, it took me almost 4 hours to complete.

• full-time

• time-consuming

• last-minute

Multiple Choice

How can he afford to buy himself a ___ car?

• old-fashion

• quick-witted

• brand-new

Multiple Choice

He is very lovely and ___despite his age.

• old-fashion

• quick-witted

• time-consuming

Multiple Choice

It's ___ to speak with your mouth full.

• bad-tempered

• bad-mannered

• old-fashion

Multiple Choice

Let us travel in luxury by buying a ___ ticket this year.

• first-class

• second-class

• third-class

Multiple Choice

Which country lies to the ___ of India?

• south-west

• first-class

• left-handed

• easy-going

Multiple Choice

The baby-sitter had a ___ job as the parent of the baby were away on a vacation.

• mind-numbing

• boring

• non-suitable

• workers

Multiple Choice

His ___ and carefree nature is liked by all.

• easy-going

• full-time

• first-class

• fifteen-minute