COMPOUND ADJECTIVES
III This is Jane Pretty. Describe her appearance and character using compound adjectives given below.
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IV Match the definitions to the compound adjectives. The words are given in the box. There are more words than needed.
A compound adjective is formed when two or more adjectives are joined together to modify the same noun. They are usually written with a hyphen (e.g. good-looking, sun-tanned …). Its meaning is normally clear from the words it combines. The second part of the compound adjective is often a present or past participle. A lot of compound adjectives describe a person’s appearance, character, and situation.
I Match the adjectives with their meanings.
1 well-off A attractive 2 laid-back B totally new 3 good-looking C famous 4 ready-made D rich 5 fashion-conscious E relaxed 6 well-known F eternal 7 heart-broken G inflexible 8 ever-lasting H depressed 9 narrow-minded I stylish 10 brand-new J can be used immediately
II Fill in the gaps with the compound adjectives from exercise I. One word is given in brackets.
1. Mary is very 1___________ (fashion) and she loves wearing 2________ (new) designer clothes.
2. Brad Pitt is a really 3______ (known) actor and he’s very 4___________ (good) – everybody likes him.
3. Kate is always so 5________ (back) about everything.
4. His visit left an 6 ________ (lasting) impression on me.
5. John worked long hours and became very 7_____
(off).
6. We have no 8 _________ (made) answers.
7. Our new boss is so 9___________ (minded), he is not ready to listen to or tolerate the views of others.
8. Alan was really 10________ (broken) when Sarah left him.
good-looking long-sleeved brand-new well-off easy-going curly- haired long-legged blue-eyed open-necked high-heeled tight-fitting good-tempered
absent-minded narrow-minded thick-skinned short-tempered badly-behaved two-faced cold-hearted strong-minded fashion-conscious easy-going big-headed
1 Sam is not easily upset or offended by what other people say about him. He is ____________________. 2Mr. Brown gets angry very easily. He is
________________________________________.
3 My sister usually gets what she wants. She is ___________________________________.
4 Ann is insensitive and she always tries to tell people whatever she thinks will please them. She is ______________________.
5 One little boy was very ________________________________; he kept shouting during lunch.
6 Jill had a nice time with Jeremy – he’s good company and very _______________________________.
7 Mrs. Smith is getting more ________________________________ as she gets older.
