A compound adjective is a single adjective comprising more than one word. The words in a compound adjective are usually grouped together using hyphens to show it is a single adjective.
Examples of Compound Adjectives
Here are some example of compound adjectives (shaded):
four-foot table
12-page magazine
free-range eggs
never-to-be-forgotten experience
well-known lawyer
.
Alternatives to Hyphens in Compound Adjectives
Compound adjectives can also be grouped using italics, quotation marks, and title case (i.e., capital letters). For example:
It's a bona fide purchaser.
(compound adjective grouped using italics)
Is that your "go away" look?
(compound adjective grouped using quotation marks)
Did you watch the Harry Potter documentary?
(compound adjective grouped using title case)
.
A Quick Test
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You will score at least 5 points for a correct answer.
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