Compound Adjectives EnglishCLUB.
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Activity Sheet (page 1/2)
Intermediate
A. Compound Adjectives are adjectives made up of two or more words. When acting as a
single adjective before a noun, we usually put a hyphen between the words. Complete the
sentences shown with each type of Compound Adjective, by using the examples below.
mouth-watering densely-populated six-storey middle-aged
slow-moving sugar-free old-fashioned last-minute
1. adjective + past participle She was using an ………………………………………… coffee machine.
2. adverb + past participle China is a ………………………………………………………………… country.
3. noun + past participle The car belonged to a …………………………………………………… man.
4. noun + present participle She cooked us a ………………………………………………………… meal.
5. adjective + present participle A tortoise is a ………………………………………………………… creature.
6. noun + adjective I lost 5 kg by following a ……………………………………………… diet.
7. adjective + noun It was a ……………………………………… decision. It wasn’t planned.
8. number + noun He lives in a ……………………………………………………………… building.
B. Create Compound Adjectives to complete the sentences using one word from each box.
well brand full open second new bedroom minded grown hand
three ice home self good employed time looking cold known
1. He is always open to new ideas. He’s very …………………………………………………………………………
2. These are ………………………………………………………… jeans. I bought them yesterday.
3. They live in a …………………………………………………………… house.
4. He’s a ……………………………………………………………… man. I’m not surprised all the girls like him.
5. The beer was ……………………………………………………………… and extremely refreshing.
6. He is a …………………………………………………………… actor, so you’ve probably seen some of his films.
7. When Peter leaves school he’ll get a …………………………………………………………………………… job.
8. I brought you some …………………………………… carrots which I picked from our garden this morning.
9. Fred is ………………………………………………………………………………; he doesn’t work for anybody else.
10. These shoes used to belong to someone else. They’re ………………………………………………………………
A freely photocopiable EnglishClub printable written by Lucy Green. © www.englishclub.com
Compound Adjectives (page 2/2)
EnglishCLUB.com
C. See if you can think of Compound Adjectives to complete the sentences below.
1. Ann doesn’t behave well. She is a ……………………………………………………………………… child.
2. This gadget saves me a lot of time. It’s a ……………………………………………………………… gadget.
3. The ice cream contains no fat. It’s ………………………………………………………… ice cream.
4. People in Australia speak English. It is an ……………………………………………………………… country.
5. She’s having a break. She deserves it. She’s having a ………………………………………………………… break.
6. I made this cake at home. It’s a …………………………………………………………… cake.
7. John works 10 hours a week in a bakery. He has a ……………………………………………………………… job.
8. I have a daughter. She is two years old. I have a ……………………………………………………… daughter.
9. These scissors are for people who write with their left hand. They’re ……………………………… scissors.
10. These batteries last a long time. They are …………………………………………………………… batteries.
D. Complete the questions by writing in the missing halves of Compound Adjectives from
this activity sheet. Afterwards, ask the questions to a partner.
1. Do you ever wear second-…………………… clothes, or do you only wear brand-…………………… ones?
2. Which do you prefer, shop-bought cakes or home-……………………………… ones?
3. Have you ever made a last-………………………………… decision? If so, what was it?
4. Would you like to be ………………………………-employed, or would prefer to work for someone else?
5. Do you write with your right hand, or are you left-……………………………………?
6. Were you a badly-……………… child? If so, how did your parents punish you when you misbehaved?
7. What sweet foods would you miss most if you went on a ……………………………………-free diet?
E. Complete the list of prompts by writing in the missing part of the Compound Adjective
from this activity sheet. Afterwards, talk with your partner and see if you can think of two
words for each prompt.
Write down:
1. Two slow-………………… animals which take ages to get anywhere. ………………………… …………………………
2. Two ………………-lasting foods which can be kept for many years. ………………………… …………………………
3. Two …………………-saving devices, which help us do things faster. ………………………… …………………………
4. Two foods you couldn’t eat if you were on a fat-………………diet. ………………………… …………………………
5. Two things that taste better when they’re served ……………-cold. ………………………… …………………………
A freely photocopiable EnglishClub printable written by Lucy Green. © www.englishclub.com
