A compound modifier is a compound of two or more words which modify a noun. It is made up of adjectives as well as nouns and determiners. When it appears before a noun phrase, it has to be hyphenated; but hyphens aren't necessary when the compound modifier is used as a post-modifier.
Adverbs which contain the -ly suffix (such as badly and quickly) are not hyphenated, but adverbs without the -ly suffix, for example well, are accompanied by a hyphen.
Examples of compound modifiers are:
- I found dust-covered books in the attic.
- Man-eating sharks are very dangerous.
- She has got a twelve-year-old sister.
An adjective phrase also modifies a noun and its head word is an adjective. This adjective may be accompanied by modifiers, determiners and qualifiers. An adjective phrase may appear before the noun or after a linking verb.
For example:
- The final exams were unbelievably difficult.
- This pie is very delicious and extremely expensive.
- He was wearing a dark brown suit.
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing, Agus.
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