A compound adjective is an adjective that contains two or more words. Compound adjectives are adjectives that are made up of two or more words usually with hyphens between them compound adjectives can be formed as follows. Generally, we put a hyphen between the words when we want them to act as a single adjective before a noun. Only some of the compound adjectives will have this ability to migrate from the attributive to the predicative position. A resource that contains 11 worksheets with answers on compound adjectives. It can be further classified into abstract noun, collective noun, common noun, compound noun, concrete noun, countable noun, uncountable noun, gerund noun and proper noun. There are currently 27 such worksheets with more coming soon. Some general observations can help you understand the principles behind the rules on hyphenating compound adjectives and therefore increase your chances of getting it right. A single adjective made up of two or more words is called a compound adjective. Compound adjectives compound adjective practice a compound adjective is an adjective that contains two or more words.
If the compound contains a proper noun, do not use a hyphen even if it does come before the. An adjective is a word which describes or limits a substantive. Comma punctuation, compound adjectives, comparatives, superlatives, english writing tips, and a punctuation quiz. Compound adjectives compound adjectives consist of two or more words that function as a unit. A common mistake would be omitting the hyphen, which can lead to difference in meaning and confusion. This adjective with two words joined by the hyphen is called a compound adjective.
In general we put a hyphen between two or more words before a noun when we want them to act as a single idea adjective that describes something. Dont forget to add the hyphen between the two words. Compound adjectives, english grammar, advanced english grammar. The second part of the compound adjective is frequently a present or past participle. Most often, you will hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a. A compound word is made of two or morewords that together express a single idea. A compound is a word or word group that consists of two or more parts that work together as a unit to express a specific concept. Hyphens in compound adjectives, general rule the broad and general rule, then, is this. To begin, a compound adjective is a single expression made up of more than one word and acting as a single adjective.
Welcome to the first adjectives subsection which deals exclusively with compound adjectives. Hyphenation with compound adjectives interestingly, hyphenation is also used creatively to indicate that an idea that would normally be expressed by a phrase is being treated as a single word for communicative purposes because it has crystallized in the writers mind into a firm, single concept. Superwordswhy compound adjectives are so versatile and useful 2. Learn adjective definition and useful grammar rules in relation to english adjectives with examples and esl printable worksheets. These are called compound adjectives meaning an adjective that has two or more words. The final section is dedicated to exocentric compounds and borderline formations, whose status of compound adjectives is often questionable, due to their formal and semantic characteristics. In this lesson, youre going to learn some of the most compound adjectives with example sentences. The words in a compound adjective can be linked together by a hyphen or hyphens to show they are part of the same adjective. Teach english grammar compound adjectives formation, usage, grammar practice. Compounds english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. English compound adjectives creating compound adjectives. This worksheet uses the game dominos to help students practice forming compound adjectives. However, not all participial adjectives end with ed past participle and ing present participle, if a compound adjective contains an irregular verb than it will take the past participle ending.
Learn how to form compound adjectives and compound adjective list with examples. Oct 15, 2018 in english, compound adjectives can be created from a noun to make a physical description under the following construction. Adjectives can come before nouns or after linking verbs. Compound adjectives in english eslbuzz learning english. Compound adjectives consist of two or more words that function as a unit. That is, more than one word that together modify a noun. Aug 21, 2018 a compound adjective is made up of two or more words such as parttime and highspeed that act as a single idea to modify a noun a parttime employee, a highspeed chase. Note that combining an adverb and an adjective does not create a compound adjective.
Many compound nouns have a hyphen between them or a space without anything. The important element of this composition is the second one. Notice that twelveyearold does not, in this case, use an s. Using a hyphen helps to avoid confusion, such as in the example above. Learn english with lets talk free english lessons 437,671 views. Adjectives ending in ed or ing are called participial adjectives because they have the same endings as verb participles. Preintermediate students can also make use of this worksheet as well. Compound adjectives sometimes lose their hyphens over time, becoming a single word eyecatching to eyecatching, for example, so the only way to know for sure is to look the word up in a dictionary.
The type lionhearted and goodnatured which seeks to explain the ed compound adjective type. English esl compound adjectives worksheets most downloaded. Compound modifiers are grammatically equivalent to singleword modifiers, and can be used in combination with other modifiers. When a compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies, use a hyphen to join the adjectives. Of course, this list isnt anywhere near exhaustive. Here, for your reference, is a long list of the most frequently encountered types of compound adjectives and the rules on hyphenation. An adjective which describes is called a descriptive adjective.
Compound adjectives, english grammar, advanced english. Here is one scholarly article called compound adjectives in english. Subject verb agreement pdf a study of subject verb agreement from novice writers to. In this lesson, youre going to learn some of the most compou. Dec 04, 2017 first of all, let me tell you im not the most highly qualified person for this question. What are the rules for the formation of compound adjectives. There are nine types of limiting adjectives as follows.
Compound adjectives compound adjectives udesantiagovirtual. Comma punctuation, compound adjectives, comparatives. Hyphenated adjectives usually called compound adjectives are two words joined together with a hyphen, that modify a noun. In the uk, your readers will expect you to use hyphens in compound adjectives. Dec 19, 2015 how and why to use compound adjectives 1. After watching, you will be able to construct them yourself with ease. It includes worksheets that test the understanding and usage capability of the learners. If this is a question youve been wondering about, then take a look at this lesson.
An adjective which points out or designates is called a definitive adjective. Making compound adjectives is as easy as making compound nouns. A compound modifier also called a compound adjective or a phrasal adjective or adjectival phrase is a compound of two or more attributive words. Adjectives do not modify verbs or adverbs or other adjectives. The chief purpose of hyphenating compound adjectives is to avoid ambiguity. Well, a compound is when two things are joined together to make a greater unit. Depending on its position within the sentence, the compound adjective is punctuated with or without a hyphen. First of all, let me tell you im not the most highly qualified person for this question. A compound modifier also called a compound adjective, phrasal adjective, or adjectival phrase is a compound of two or more attributive words.
Compounds can be formed by combining two or more words as in doublecheck, costeffective, farmhouse, graphic equalizers, park bench, aroundtheclock, or son of a gun, by combining prefixes or suffixes. Using ed and ing adjectives correctly english grammar lesson duration. Its meaning is usually clear from the words it combines. An open compound means that the words ofthe compound are written separately, newyears eve, credit card, sea salt. Adjectives and adverbs adjectives we use adjectives to describe nouns and pronouns. English compound adjectives creating compound adjectives 2 esl vocabulary practice. Lets look at a sample worksheet from this category. Compound adjectives are adjectives comprised by two or more different words to describe a noun in terms of age, depth, weight, price, size etc. Kindly produce an article containing all the exceptions for hyphenating compound adjectives, with examples. Compounds english grammar today cambridge dictionary. This worksheet is prepared for intermediate students who want to practice the use of compound words.
In english, some adjectives can consist of two or more words. Have you ever noticed some english words with hyphens between them. Compound adjectives a very efficient way of creating new words is to make compound adjectives. In this lesson, you will learn the basic structure of compound adjectives like tenyearold girl and greeneyed boy. Teach english grammar compound adjectives free english. When it comes after the word it modifies, dont hyphenate it. Dec 10, 2017 descriptive adjectives describe quality of the noun. This worksheet contains a brief grammar explanation and. Compound adjectives are made up of multiple words, and, in various combinations, they can be composed of adjectives, nouns, quantifiers, participles, and adverbs. In fact, descriptive adjectives can be attributive adjectives or predicate adjectives. Adjective rules in english download all the grammar lessons in one click. Hyphenation is not an exact science, and not all style guides agree on the rules.
They change a word from one part of speech, such as a noun or a verb, to another, such as an adjective. When a multiword adjective comes before the word it modifies, hyphenate it. Also called a phrasal adjective or a compound modifier. Compound adjectives are made up of more than one word, usually two however, there is no actual limit to how many words may make up a compound adjective. You will need the students handout, teachers notes and link to the quizlet set below. And never use a hyphen with a comparative er or superlative est or to join an ly adverb to an adjective. When a compound adjective follows the noun it modifies, do. For each of the following sentences, create a compound adjective by combining the words in bold in the first sentence.
Get keyboard and check your text using a unique contextual grammar and spell checker. How and why to use compound adjectives linkedin slideshare. I taught english as a foreign language to accelerated middle and highschool swiss students for 30 years or so and have merely made a hobby out of queries l. We can make adjectives by adding prefixes and suffixes. A compound adjective is an adjective, which means it modifies nouns. Four exercises for practicing the use of the compound adjectives. A compound noun is a word created with two or more words. For example, in the phrase maneating lion, maneating is a compound adjective. An adjective is said to belong to the substantive which it describes or limits. The words in a compound adjective are often linked together by a hyphen or hyphens to show that they are part of the same adjective. Adjectives are words that describe the qualities or states of being of nouns.
A noun is the part of speech which names a person, an animal, place, a thing or a quality of a thing. Jun 25, 2015 in this lesson, you will learn the basic structure of compound adjectives like tenyearold girl and greeneyed boy. Most often, you will hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea. Oct 16, 2015 using ed and ing adjectives correctly english grammar lesson duration. A compound adjective is formed when two or more adjectives are joined together to modify the same noun. Normal adjectives are simply words that describe things so, for example, when we say something is nice, horrible, expensive, cheap, hot, cold, delicious, and so forth that is an adjective. Compound adjectives are adjectives that are made up of two or more words usually with hyphens between them. It can be used after the subject is presented or given as a quiz to check comprehension. Compound modifiers are grammatically equivalent to singleword modifiers, and can be used in conjunction with other modifiers. Most students learn that adjectives are words that modify describe nouns. In many languages, adjectives denoting attributes usually occur in a specific order. These terms should be hyphenated to avoid confusion or ambiguity. Compound adjectives are adjectives that are made up of two or more words usually with hyphen s between them. A compound adjective also known as a compound modifier or a phrasal adjective is created by two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun.
Join compound adjectives with hyphens when you use them before the noun. Get page and check your text using a unique contextual grammar and spell checker. While, limiting adjectives limit the noun being described. Well explore the definition of compound adjectives and look at. Compound adjectives are usually written with hyphens when they are used in front of a noun they modify. Adjectives can be formed by adding the ending ed or ing to some verbs. Compound adjectives are made when two or more adjectives are joined together to modify, or describe, the same noun. Teachers can use these to enhance the vocabulary skills of the learners when it comes to writing.