Unit 12. Compound adjectives- Pre-Inter Vocab

A compound adjective is formed from two different words, and occasionally three. They are usually written with a hyphen (e.g. good-looking, well-known), and the stress is usually the same on both parts of the compound.

Formation and pronunciation

Many compound adjectives describe a person's appearance, character, and situation.

Describing people

This is William. He isn't well-known (= famous), he isn't well-off (= rich), and I've never heard anyone say he was good- looking (= handsome/ attractive).

Describing people

But he's a very nice man- kind, friendly and very easy- going (= relaxed). In this picture he's wearing a short- sleeved shirt and a brand-new (= completely new) hat.

Describing people

These adverbs combine with many past participles to form compound adjectives. You can use 'well' or 'badly' in front of the adjective (except well-known, which has no opposite).

'Well' and 'badly'

a well-directed film

'Well' and 'badly'

a well-made pair of shoes

'Well' and 'badly'

a well-written story

'Well' and 'badly'

a badly-paid job (= a low salary)

'Well' and 'badly'

a badly-behaved child (= acting in a bad way)

'Well' and 'badly'

a badly-dressed young man (= wearing horrible clothes)

'Well' and 'badly'

It's a fifteen-minute drive to the centre. (= a drive of fifteen minutes)

It's common to combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound adjective.

He works in a four-star hotel. (= a hotel with a rating of four stars)

It's common to combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound adjective.

I gave her a five-pound note. (= a note with a value of five pounds)

It's common to combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound adjective.

The winner was a ten-year-old girl. (= a girl who is ten years old)

It's common to combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound adjective.

There was a two-hour delay on our flight. (= the plane was two hours' late)

It's common to combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound adjective.

She had a full-time job in a bank, but after the baby was born she changed to a part-time job and just worked in the mornings.

Common compounds

The hotel is north-west of here, about ten miles away. (also north-east, south- east, and south- west)

Common compounds

Most of the population are right-handed, but about 10% are left-handed.

Common compounds

On trains and planes you can buy a first-class ticket if you are happy to pay a lot more.

Common compounds

Mary bought a second-hand BMW. (= the car was not brand-new, but was a new car for her)

Common compounds

Drag and Drop

Dear Martha,

Well, I've arrived in London and I've been incredibly lucky- I found a job the day after I arrived here! I'm staying with an English family and I'm looking after the children. It's only a ​

Placeholder

, so I'll be free in the mornings and evenings. The family are really nice- very relaxed and ​

Placeholder

and the house is big and beautiful, so they are obviously quite ​

Placeholder

. What's more, they've got a ​

Placeholder

car which I'm allowed to drive when I'm collecting the children from school. There's a ​

Placeholder

baby and ... (to be continued)

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

part-time job

easy-going

well-off

brand-new

four-month-old

Drag and Drop

There's a four-month-old baby, and ​

Placeholder

twins who are very ​

Placeholder

children, which makes life easy for me! The house is in ​

Placeholder

London, which is a very pleasant area and it's near Wimbledon- only a ​

Placeholder

walk from the famous tennis club! The only problem is that looking after children is a ​

Placeholder

job, but I have got free accommodation. Why don't you come and see me?Love, Erica.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

six-year-old

well-behaved

south-west

five-minute

badly-paid