Explanation
Exercises
Compound adjectives with numbers: a two-day trip

What is a compound adjective?

  • An adjective made of two or more words used before a noun: a well-dressed man, a part-time job, a first-class ticket.
  • We usually join the parts with a hyphen to show they form one idea.

Adjectives can appear before a noun (a fantastic idea) or after be/sense verbs (John looks tired), but number-compounds are mainly used before a noun.

Core pattern: number + singular measure noun + main noun

Pattern Examples
[number]-[singular unit] + noun a two-day trip • a five-minute walk • a 10-mile hike • a 50-metre pool • a 30-minute show
Always use the unit in singular ✓ a two-day journey • ✗ a two-days journey
Hyphenate the parts ✓ a three-hour flight (one idea) • ✗ a three hour flight (can be ambiguous)
Decimals & fractions a 2.5-hour meeting • a two-and-a-half-hour class

UK/US spelling: metre/litre (BrE) vs meter/liter (AmE). Irregular plurals also stay singular: a 20-foot wall (not feet).

Age, money, & complex chains

  • Age: a seven-year-old child • a two-year-old laptop. (But after the noun: He is two years old.)
  • Cost/quantity: a 10-million-dollar house • a three-kilogram bag • a 200-page book.
  • Ranges (style choice): a 10–12-minute talk (en dash for 10–12).

Number + body part + -ed

  • a three-legged table • a one-eyed alien • a four-armed robot • a seven-headed dragon.
  • Double the final consonant when the last syllable is stressed and has C-V-C: leg → legged.

After the noun (predicate position)

  • We normally rephrase with be + number + plural unit + long or last(ed):
    ✓ The flight was three hours long. / The meeting lasted two hours.
    ✗ The flight was three-hour.
  • Possessive alternative (esp. BrE, no article): We had three weeks’ holiday. (not recommended at B1 for ages/cost).

Hyphen notes (good style)

  • No hyphen with adverbs in -ly: a highly paid job (but a well-paid job uses a hyphen).
  • Keep small numbers in words (a two-day pass) or use digits with units (a 21-day visa) — both are acceptable; be consistent on your page.
  • When a symbol/unit is attached, keep the hyphen: a 10-km hike, a 5-GB file.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ a two-days trip → ✓ a two-day trip.
  • ✗ a three hour meeting (no hyphen) → ✓ a three-hour meeting.
  • ✗ The class is two-hour → ✓ The class is two hours long / It’s a two-hour class.
  • ✗ Using plural units inside the compound: a 20-feet container → ✓ a 20-foot container.
  • ✗ Missing hyphens in longer chains: a two and a half hour lesson → ✓ a two-and-a-half-hour lesson.

Mini example bank

  • travel We took a three-hour flight to Rome. • They’re on a two-day trip.
  • study I have to write a ten-page report tonight.
  • home They bought a two-bedroom apartment with a 50-metre pool.
  • tech This phone has an eight-core processor.
  • age She’s a two-year-old toddler. • She is two years old.
  • body The statue shows a one-eyed hero and a three-legged stool.
Exercises:
1
2
3

Compound adjectives with numbers: ‘a two-day trip’

Fill in each gap with a number-noun compound adjective.
1
A bag of potatoes costs $3.49.
2
The suspect is a man who lives in the area.
3
Candidates need work experience and passing a exam.
4
They use a generator to power the tools.
5
The company had to pay a fine.
6
They live in a flat in the town centre.
7
Sydney–London is a journey.
8
We stayed in a hotel.
9
We deserve a break.
10
She went on a holiday with her family.

Compound adjectives with numbers: ‘a two-day trip’

Choose the correct form for each sentence.
1
He wrote a _____ essay.
A.
B.
C.
2
Everybody has time for a _____ walk to de-stress.
A.
B.
C.
3
The students went on a _____ trip to Paris.
A.
B.
C.
4
We approved a _____ plan to cut costs.
A.
B.
C.
5
She bought a _____ pass for the metro.
A.
B.
C.
6
They moved into a _____ apartment near campus.
A.
B.
C.
7
I signed up for a _____ online program.
A.
B.
C.
8
Let’s have a _____ call this afternoon.
A.
B.
C.
9
They have a _____ daughter who loves books.
A.
B.
C.
10
The bank presented a _____ mortgage rate.
A.
B.
C.

Compound adjectives with numbers: ‘a two-day trip’

Choose the correct options to complete these sentences.
1
A trip that lasts four days is a trip.
2
A report with twelve pages is a report.
3
A race that is 100 meters is a race.
4
A presentation that takes twenty minutes is a presentation.
5
A student who is 15 years old is a student.
6
A course that lasts six weeks is a course.
7
An apartment with two bedrooms is a apartment.
8
A bottle that holds two litres is a bottle.
9
An essay of three thousand words is a essay.
10
A hotel with five stars is a hotel.