Word Formation: Compound Adjectives
Starter
Show learners the first slide. Discuss in what ways words such as blackbird are different from ones such as grass-green i.e. the first is a compound noun and the second is a compound adjective. Make sure learners pay attention to the base word.
The second slide explains the difference in forming these types of adjective are formed. See if learners can think of any other examples.
Activity 1
Next, the learners test their knowledge. Learners will see six compound adjectives that have been split into base and specifying words. Some of them use a hyphen after the specifying word. Have the learners copy down and match the words before asking volunteers to come up and complete the activity in front of the whole class. Drag the cards together to connect and double click to separate. Click 'Submit your Answers' to check.
Show the learners the next slide with the list of compound adjectives. Ask them to pay attention to the word class of both the specifying and base word. These are all examples in which the specifying word is a noun, but they are all still compound adjectives since the base word is an adjective.
Ask learners to think of some other common compound adjectives that use the same base word e.g. colour-blind and snow-blind. Finally, ask learners to choose ten compound adjectives from the lesson so far, to write a sentence for each and share their results with a partner.
Activity 2
Next, learners will look at some other ways compound adjectives can be formed. Show learners the next interactive activity. Learners need to categorise the words based on any patterns they can see in how they are formed. Make sure they pay attention to the endings of the base words.
Reveal the solution in the next slide: learners should have organised the words based on the two different participles: present participles end with (-ing) and past participles end with (-ed). Finally ask learners to write sentences using these compound adjectives and share with a partner and the whole class.
Extension: see if learners can coin any new compound adjectives based on the examples they have seen today. Ask them to write definitions or use them to invent a new product or creative idea.
This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.
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Word Formation: Compound Adjectives
Starter
Last lesson we saw how adjectives can be combined with nouns to make compound nouns, such as blackbird or red card.
Are these next two examples the same or something different?
- grass-green
- lifelong
These words are both examples of compound adjectives.
The second word is the base adjective (e.g. green or long) and the first word is the specifying adjective (e.g grass- or life).
Can you think of any other examples of compound adjectives?
Activity 1
In the next activity, you will match words together to form common compound adjectives.
Drag the cards together to connect and double click to separate.
What do you notice about this list of compound adjectives?
What word class does each word belong to?
colour-blind, fireproof, knee-high, paper-thin, seasick, water-tight
All these compound adjectives are formed with a specifying noun!
colour-blind, fireproof, knee-high, paper-thin, seasick, water-tight
For each compound adjective, think of an alternative noun that would change the meaning.
For example: snow-blind.
Here are some possible solutions:
snow-blind, waterproof, waist-high, wafer-thin, carsick, air-tight
All these words are still adjectives, since the base word is an adjective.
Choose ten compound adjectives we have looked at so far and write a sentence for each one.
Share with a partner: have they been used correctly?
Activity 2
There are more ways we can form compound adjectives. In the next activity, look at the compound adjectives and organise them into two lists based on how they are formed.
If you are unsure, look closely at any patterns you notice in the second, base word and how it is written.
You should have organised the compound words into these two categories (in any order!):
1. Present participle (-ing)
- record-breaking, money-saving, heart-breaking
2. Past participle (-ed)
- state-owned, well-behaved, tailor-made
(Make is an irregular verb.)
Write a six sentences using the comound adjectives ending with present and past participles.
Share with a partner: have they been used correctly?
Extension
Look back at the words from today's lessons. Can you form any original or silly compound adjectives and come up with possible definitions?
Or invent some completely new compound adjectives that you could use in daily-life or to sell a new product.