Snackable Business English - Compound Adjectives

1

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

H. E. Colby

businessenglishace.com

2

Compound adjectives are usually hyphenated.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

3

Examples:

well-groomed long-lasting

full-scale hard-working

short-term part-time

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

4

Many phrases describing size, length or age are hyphenated before nouns.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

5

Examples:

a ten-year-old child but…

The child is ten years old.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

6

Examples:

a three-month course but…

The course lasts three months.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

7

Adjectives are also formed using prefixes, especially to describe opposites.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

8

Examples:

dis – dissatisfied, disorganized

in – inexperienced, inexpensive

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

9

Examples:

non – non-existent, non-binding

over – overcrowded, overstuffed

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

10

Watch out:

Some of these adjectives can be spelled with a hyphen or without.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

11

Example:

nonbinding or non-binding.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

12

Thus, consult a dictionary if you have a doubt.

Snackable Business English

Compound Adjectives

businessenglishace.com

13

Snackable Business English

Please sign up for my FREE weekly Business English Ace

Newsletter for more Snackable English tips and

special offers!

businessenglishace.com