Compound adjectives

Hyphens do make a difference

Compound adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes something. A red car (red is an adjective because it describes the car. How is the car? Red) A big book (big is an adjective because it describes the book. How is the book? Big) But sometimes we use more than one adjective to describe something.

What is an adjective?

A compound adjective is an adjective that contains two or more words. 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. I live in an English-speaking country. English-speaking is an adjective (used to describe the country). We use a hyphen to connect the word English with speaking to show that it is one adjective (or one idea). This adjective with two words joined by the hyphen is called a compound adjective. Some more examples of compound adjectives are: Our office is in a twenty-storey building. I have just finished reading a 300-page book. He is a well-known writer.

Adverbs modify a verb. She walks slowly. How does she walk? Slowly. Slowly is an adverb that modifies (or describes) the verb. Adverbs can also be used to modify an adjective. It is very hot today. (Very is an adverb) She is extremely intelligent. (Extremely is an adverb) Notice how we do not put a hyphen between an adverb and an adjective (not even before a noun). It is a very hot day. She is an extremely intelligent girl. But sometimes we use more than one adjective to describe something.

What is an adverb?

When we have compound adjectives using a number + a time period, that word referring to a time period is in singular form and is joined to the number with a hyphen. I work eight hours every day --> I work an eight-hour day I'm going on vacation for three weeks --> I have a three-week vacation There was a delay of 5 seconds --> There was a five-second delay Notice how we normally write the number as a word, not in numerical form.

Periods of time

stories.

Adverb+past participle

stories.

Adverb+past participle

stories.

Adverb+past participle

stories.

Adverb+past participle

stories.

Adverb+past participle

stories.

Adverb+past participle

If you can use the word “and” between the two adjectives or words, then a hyphen isn't necessary. She has a big blue book. (Big and Blue are adjectives) Can we say: She has a big and blue book. (Yes, it is possible) He is a world famous singer. (Is this correct?) Can we say: He is a world and famous singer. No, it doesn't sound correct so we need a hyphen to join the words world and famous: He is a world-famous singer. (Correct) Also, look at the following: It's an old coal-mining town Notice how we didn't put a hyphen between the word old and coal. If we had have done that, we would have been referring to old coal, as in coal that is old. We want to emphasise that the town in old and not the coal. Here we can say it is old and a coal-mining one.

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