A compound adjective is a fixed expression which is made up of morethan one word and which has the function of an adjective. Most compoundadjectives are written with a hyphen, but a few are written as one word:
skin-deep
long-term
threadbare
The following types of compound adjective usually have main stress on the first part:
The following types of compound adjective usually have main stress on the second part:
noun + adjective
,fat-'free
,sky-'high
,snow-'white(and other colour compounds)
Exception: 'camera-shy
adjective + noun
,long -'term
,full-'length
,high-'profile
adverb or adjective + past participle
,fully-'grown
,long-'sighted
,well-'dressed
adverb or adjective + -ing form
,easy-'going
,hard-'working
,well-'meaning
Exceptions: 'backward-,looking, 'forward-,looking
self- as the first part
,self-'confident
,self-in'flicted
,self-'governing
Most compound adjectives with main stress on the second part (includingthe exceptions in 17B) can have stress shift (see Unit 10B). Compare: The tiger was fully-GROWN. but: It was a FULly-grown TIger. The prices were sky-HIGH. but: They were SKY-high PRIces.
Two-, three- and four-letter abbreviations said as individualletters often have main stress on the last letter and secondary stresson the first: the ,E'U the ,U'K the ,BB'C ,DN'A the ,YMC'A Abbreviations like this usually have stress shift. Compare: He works for the BBC. but: He works for BBC RAdio. She's from the UK. but: She's a UK CITizen.
Do these compound adjectives have main stress in their first part or their second part? Underline the syllable with main stress. Key. Examples: sky-highcolour-coded
Read the profile of Sarah Fox. Focus on the compound adjectives inbold (some are given in B and C opposite) and circle the syllable youthink will have main stress. Remember some have stress shift. Key.
Now listen and check your answers. Finally, read the description aloud.
Do you know the meaning of the abbreviations in column A? If not,check in a dictionary or the Key. Then listen to the abbreviations andrepeat them. Notice that the main stress is always on the last letter.Finally, choose an appropriate abbreviation from each pair to completethe sentence in column B. Key.
A
B
1
CEO / DVD
She's the company's CEO .
2
AOB / PC
My laptop was advertised in a magazine called __________ World.
3
OHP / NHS
She works as a nurse for the __________.
4
ATM / RP
There aren't many people here who speak __________.
5
AGM / RSI
The __________'s cancelled.
6
TLC / VAT
She just needs a lot of rest and a bit of __________.
7
UFO / WHO
We've followed all the __________ guidelines.
8
EU / RSVP
They're meeting at the __________ summit in Brussels.
9
CV / ETA
If there are no delays, what's your __________?
10
CD / IT
The software's on a __________-ROM.
11
CND / DIY
He spends most weekends doing __________.
12
GMT / HGV
The eclipse is at 9 o'clock __________.
Now listen and check your answers. Finally, say the sentences aloud. The Key gives details of stress shift.
Follow up: Skim through an English newspaper (either a paper copy oronline), and find compound adjectives. Do you know where the mainstress is in each of them? (Use a dictionary to check.)
Read the profile of Sarah Fox. Focus on the compound adjectives inbold (some are given in B and C opposite) and circle the syllable youthink will have main stress. Remember some have stress shift.
