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More than one adjective before a noun

More than one adjective before a noun we connect them with a hyphen. No hyphen when it comes after the noun.

A blue-eyed cat has just had a bath.

The blue-eyed cat has just had a bath.

When we use more than one adjective before a noun, which are one idea, we connect them with a hyphen.
• He is a good-looking man.
(The meaning is not good man and looking man. The meaning is a man that looks good. So we link the adjectives)
• The slow-moving train arrived late.

When the adjectives come after the noun we don’t use a hyphen.
Compare:
• The blue-eyed cat has just had a bath.
• The cat with blue eyes has just had a bath.
• The slow-moving train arrived late.
• The train was slow moving so it arrived late.

When the adjectives before the noun are different ideas we put a comma between them.
• The furry, black cat.
(The meaning is that the cat is furry, and the cat is black)

Remember: Before the noun with a hyphen. After the noun no hyphen.

  • Exercise 1

    Remember: Before the noun with a hyphen. After the noun no hyphen.

    Re-write the following sentences as in the example.

    Example
    A train which moves fast.

    Answer
    A fast-moving train.

    Remember: Before the noun with a hyphen. After the noun no hyphen.

    Re-write the following sentences as in the example.

    Example
    A train which moves fast.

    Answer
    A fast-moving train.

    Exercise 2

    Re-write the following sentences as in the example.

    Example
    An air-conditioned room.

    Answer
    The room is air conditioned.

    Re-write the following sentences as in the example.

    Example
    An air-conditioned room.

    Answer
    The room is air conditioned.

  • Remember: Before the noun with a hyphen. After the noun no hyphen.

    I have just bought six puppies. They are four months old. I also have a five-year-old cat who I imagine will be very happy to see them.

     Six four-month old puppies are sitting in a shopping trolley.

  • Remember: Before the noun with a hyphen. After the noun no hyphen.

    When it is going along the snow-covered railway line it looks powerful.

    Remember: Before the noun with a hyphen. After the noun no hyphen.

    The slow-moving ice looks beautiful.