COMPOUND ADJECTIVES EXERCISES

1)Read the first sentence and find the missing compound adjective:

The child behaves well. He is a ______________________child.

That man dresses very scruffily. He is a ______________________man.
This film star is very conscious of her image. This film star is very ______________________
It takes ten minutes to drive from my house to work. It is a ______________________drive
from my house to work.
They planned the attack very cleverly. It was a very ______________________attack.
My dog has got short legs. It is a ______________________dog.
That man always looks rather angry. He is a rather______________________man.
His degree course took five years to complete. It was a ______________________degree
course.
What’s the name of that perfume that smells horrible? What is the name of
that ______________________perfume.
Only members who carry their cards are allowed inside. Only ______________________
members are allowed inside.

2) Insert the appropriate compound adjectives.

a)I have just discovered an insect with many legs that eats fungus in my carrot patch.

I have just discovered a _______________________ insect in my carrot patch.

b) It has red knees and flat feet.

It is _________________________.

c) My professors refuse to believe in my discovery because they have narrow minds; besides,
these old fools drink carrot juice!

My professors refuse to believe in my discovery because they are

______________________; besides, they are _________________________ fools!

d) The surgeon pulled out a worm that was thirty-five centimeters long.

The surgeon pulled out a _______________________ worm.

3) Make a compound adjective out of the underlined phrase, and write it with the word(s) in
bold-face.

e.g.: "Her daughter‘s eyes are crossed." >>> "cross-eyed daughter"

1. The farmer's pony finally died when it was ten years old.

2. His wife, like himself, had a peculiarly sinister mind.


3. She pointed out to her husband that his position did not pay very well,and that sanitation
costs were very high.

4. She suggested a clever plan to save money.

5. They dug a huge hole six feet deep in the ground.

6. This project took them six hours and twenty-five minutes.

7. Then they dropped the pony in the hole. The "thump" sound would have made your blood
curdle.

8. Their horrified neighbours came running, some carrying First Aid kits, others camcorders.
This is not surprising at all! These people were all educated bytelevision, and all their lives, they
had watched programs that numb the mind and erode the I.Q.