Compound Adjectives By : Mela Melinawati, M.Pd

A compound is a word composed of more than one free morpheme. English compounds may be classified in several ways, such as the word classes or the semantic relationship of their components.compoundfree morpheme word classessemantic  A compound adjective is an adjective that comprises more than one word. Usually, hyphens are used to link the words together to show that it is one adjective. Examples: Please request a four-foot table. ('Four-foot' is an adjective describing the table. A hyphen is used to link 'four' and 'foot' to show that it is one adjective.) It is a 6-page document. Claire worked as a part-time keeper at the safari park. That is an all-too-common mistake.

Example : Examples by word class ModifierHeadCompound Noun Football AdjectiveNounBlackboard VerbNounBreakwater PrepositionNounUnderworld NounAdjectiveSnow-white Adjective Blue-green VerbAdjectiveTumbledown PrepositionAdjectiveOver-ripe

ModifierHeadCompound NounVerbBrowbeat AdjectiveVerbHighlight Verb Freeze-dry PrepositionVerbUndercut NounPrepositionLove-in AdjectivePrepositionForthwith VerbPrepositionTakeout Preposition Without

Continue…  Definition:  Two or more words (such as part-time or high- speed) that act as a single idea to modify a noun (a part-time employee, a high-speed chase).modifynoun  As a general rule, the words in a compound adjective are hyphenated when they come before a noun (a well-known actor) but not when they come after (The actor is well known).hyphenated  Also, compound adjectives formed with an adverb ending in -ly (such as rapidly changing) are usually not hyphenated. adverb

Compound Adjectives from Proper Nouns  Often adjectives are formed from proper nouns (i.e., the names of things), which should be written using capital letters. In these circumstances, there is no need to group the words together using hyphens. Examples: Did you manage to get the Billy Elliot tickets? (The words 'Billy Elliot' are one adjective describing the tickets. As the capital letters group the words, there is no need to use a hyphen.)proper nouns

Compound Adjectives with Quotation Marks and Italics  Although a less common practice, it is also possible to group the words in a compound adjective using quotation marks, italics or a combination of the two. (Italics tend to be used for foreign words.) Examples: It is an ab initio course (i.e., for beginners). (italics used to group the adjective) Amber looked at the stick in the water, looked me in the eye and then turned away, giving me a "get it yourself" look. (quotation marks used to group the adjective) For more than ten years, Jack claimed to be part of the "Mary Celeste" crew before admitting to his cousin at a party that he was not. (capital letters, italics and quotation marks used to group the adjective)

Adverbs and Compound Adjectives  As covered in the lesson Adverbs, an adjective is often preceded by a word like very, well, beautifully or extremely. (These are adverbs.) Usually, there is no need to link an adverb to an adjective using a hyphen. Examples: Young Tracey is an extremely brave girl. (The adverb 'extremely' modifies the adjective 'brave' but is not part of it. There is no need to group it and 'brave' together with a hyphen.) It was a beautifully painted portrait in a skilfully carved frame. (The adverb 'beautifully' adds to the adjective 'painted' but is not part of it. It is the same with 'skilfully' and 'carved'. There is no need for hyphens.)Adverbs

Ambiguous Adverbs  However, with words like well and fast (which are both adjectives and adverbs), a hyphen can be used to avoid ambiguity. Example: Jacob took the well-fatted calf to the riverside. ('well-fatted calf' as in a very plump calf) Jacob took the well fatted calf to the riverside. ('well fatted calf' could be construed as a 'well' (i.e., healthy) and 'fatted' calf. In the first example, the 'well-fatted calf' could be ill.)