- 「a two-year-old child」里的 year 没有加 s,「a well-known writer」要加连字符,但「the writer is well known」又不加——复合形容词的规则比想象中多。
- 英文用连字符把两三个词黏成一个形容词,一口气说出「什么样的」:a long-term plan、a hard-won victory、a time-consuming task。
- 最容易错的三点:数字 + 单数名词、名词前才加连字符、-ly 副词不加连字符。
- 用得好,写作会更精炼、更地道。
重点内容
常见构成方式
| 构成 | 例 | 意思 |
|---|---|---|
| 形容词 + 名词-ed | short-sighted, kind-hearted, left-handed | 近视的、心地善良的、左撇子 |
| 形容词/副词 + 过去分词 | well-known, hard-won, well-dressed | 著名的、得来不易的、穿着得体的 |
| 名词 + 过去分词 | hand-made, sun-dried, government-funded | 手工的、晒干的、政府资助的 |
| 名词 + -ing | time-consuming, eye-catching, record-breaking | 耗时的、吸睛的、破纪录的 |
| 形容词 + -ing | good-looking, long-lasting, easy-going | 好看的、持久的、随和的 |
| 数字 + 名词 | two-year-old, five-star, 10-minute | 两岁的、五星的、十分钟的 |
| 名词 + 形容词 | world-famous, duty-free, user-friendly | 世界闻名的、免税的、易用的 |
规则一:数字 + 名词,名词用单数
- a two-year course(不是 two-years)
- a ten-minute walk
- a five-star hotel
- a three-year-old boy
复合形容词里的名词永远用单数,因为整个组合是形容词,不是名词。
对照:
- The course lasts two years.(名词短语,用复数)
- It's a two-year course.(复合形容词,用单数)
规则二:放在名词前才加连字符
| 名词前(加连字符) | 放在后面(通常不加) |
|---|---|
| a well-known writer | The writer is well known. |
| an up-to-date report | The report is up to date. |
| a long-term plan | We plan for the long term. |
有些复合形容词已经固定带连字符,放后面也保留:The design is user-friendly.
规则三:-ly 副词 + 形容词 不加连字符
- a highly skilled worker(不是 highly-skilled)
- a newly opened branch
- a beautifully designed app
-ly 已经清楚表示是副词,不需要连字符。well 不是 -ly 结尾,所以 well-known 要加。
马来西亚语境常见例子
| 英文 | 中文 |
|---|---|
| a family-run business | 家族经营的生意 |
| a Muslim-friendly restaurant | 适合穆斯林的餐厅 |
| a cost-effective solution | 性价比高的方案 |
| a fast-growing economy | 快速增长的经济体 |
| a tax-exempt donation | 可免税的捐款 |
例句练习
| 英文 | 中文 |
|---|---|
| She runs a family-run bakery in Ipoh. | 她在怡保经营一家家族面包店。 |
| It's a time-consuming process, but the results are worth it. | 这个过程很耗时,但结果值得。 |
| We need a long-term solution, not a quick fix. | 我们需要长远的解决方法,不是临时补救。 |
| The five-year plan was launched last month. | 那个五年计划上个月推出。 |
| It was a hard-won victory for the national team. | 这是国家队得来不易的胜利。 |
常见错误
❌ a two-years-old child
✅ a two-year-old child
复合形容词里的名词用单数。
❌ a highly-skilled worker
✅ a highly skilled worker
-ly 副词和形容词之间不加连字符。
❌ The report is up-to-date.(按传统写作规范不推荐)
✅ The report is up to date. / an up-to-date report
大部分复合形容词只在名词前加连字符。
❌ a ten minutes walk
✅ a ten-minute walk
数字 + 名词当形容词,要加连字符并用单数。
Sources
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