A compound adjective is created when two or more words are joined together to describe a single noun. We usually connect these words with a hyphen (-) to show that they act as a single idea.
Common Types of Compound Adjectives
- Number + Noun: When using a number and a noun to create an adjective, the noun must always be singular.
- A ten-minute break (Not a ten-minutes break)
- A five-page essay (Not a five-pages essay)
- A six-year-old boy
- Adjective + Noun / Noun + Adjective:
- A high-quality product
- A world-famous actor
- A sugar-free drink
- Adverb/Adjective + Participle (ending in -ed or -ing):
- A well-known author
- A good-looking man
- A fast-paced movie
When to use the hyphen?
You must use a hyphen when the compound adjective comes before the noun it describes.
However, if the words come after a linking verb, we usually drop the hyphen:
- The actor is world famous. (No hyphen)
- He is a world-famous actor. (Hyphen)