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Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Yousra, from Egypt, about how to use hyphens when making a compound adjective.
大家好! 本周《名师答疑》，我们回答来自埃及的尤斯拉的问题：如何在复合形容词中使用连字符。
Hello, my name is Yousra from Egypt.
你好，我是来自埃及的尤斯拉。
I would like to know when I should use a hyphen between two words like, “top-selling” or “well-being.”
我想知道什么时候应该在两个单词之间用连字符，比如top-selling（卖得最多的）或well-being（健康安乐）。
Thanks.
谢谢。
Dear Yousra, Thank you for your question!
亲爱的尤斯拉，谢谢你的提问！
In this week’s program, we will explain how to use hyphens to make compound adjectives.
在本周的节目中，我们将解释如何使用连字符来构成复合形容词。
A hyphen is used to combine two or more words together to create a compound word.
连字符用于将两个或多个单词组合在一起，从而构成复合词。
Do not confuse a hyphen with a longer dash.
不要把连字符与较长的破折号混淆了。
In writing, we use a longer dash like a comma, or a period to separate sentences.
在写作中，我们像使用逗号和句号那样，用较长的破折号来分隔句子。
Compound adjectives are modifiers formed by combining adjectives with other adjectives, nouns, and even adverbs.
复合形容词是形容词与其他形容词、名词，甚至副词组合而成的修饰语。
We use them as a single expression to describe the noun that comes after.
我们把复合形容词作为一个单独的表达来描述跟在它后面的名词。
The compound adjective “top-selling” from your question is a great example.
你的问题中的复合形容词top-selling就是一个很好的例子。
The top-selling employee had the most sales for the month.
卖得最多的员工这个月的销售额最高。
Here, the two adjectives, “top” and “selling” are combined into one to describe the employee.
在这里，形容词top（最多的）和selling（卖的）组合成一个词来描述员工。
“Top-selling” means “having the most sales.”
top-selling的意思是“销量最大”。
We use hyphens to create compound adjectives, but there are some important rules for creating them with hyphens.
我们用连字符来构成复合形容词，但使用连字符时有一些重要规则。
1. Only use a hyphen when the two words could be misunderstood, and the compound adjective acts together as a single expression.
1. 只有当这两个词可能造成误解时才使用连字符，并且复合形容词作为一个单独的词整体使用。
Here is an example: The well behaved cat slept all day. (no hyphen, incorrect)
这里有一个例子：这只乖巧的猫睡了一整天。（不加连字符，错误）
The well-behaved cat slept all day. (hyphen, correct)
这只乖巧的猫睡了一整天。(有连字符，正确)
In this example, “well-behaved” acts like one expression.
在这个例子中，well-behaved作为一个整体使用。
If we separate the two words “well” and “behaved”, the sentence does not make sense.
如果把well和behaved这两个词分开，这句话就不通顺了。
And it could be misunderstood.
而且可能会造成误解。
2. Use only a hyphen in a compound adjective when it comes before a noun.
2. 只有当复合形容词出现在名词之前时，才用连字符。
Example: I love old-fashioned clothes. (Hyphen, correct)
比如：我喜欢复古的衣服。(有连字符，正确)
I love clothes that are old-fashioned. (Hyphen, incorrect)
我喜欢复古的衣服。(有连字符，错误)
I love clothes that are old fashioned. (No hyphen, correct)
我喜欢复古的衣服。 (没有连字符，正确)
3. You do not need a hyphen between an adverb and an adjective, especially when using a present participle adjective or a past participle adjective.
3. 副词和形容词之间不需要连字符，尤其是用现在分词或过去分词作为形容词时。
The urgently-needed doctor arrived on time. (Hyphen, incorrect)
急需的医生准时赶到。(有连字符，错误)
The urgently needed doctor arrived on time. (No hyphen, correct)
急需的医生准时到达。(没有连字符，正确)
These are just a few basic rules to help you create compound adjectives when writing or speaking.
这些只是几条基本规则，帮助你在写作或说话时构成复合形容词。
Please let us know if these rules, explanations, and examples have helped you, Yousra.
请让我们知道这些规则、解释和例子是否对你有帮助，尤斯拉。
Next week on Ask a Teacher, we will explore using hyphens to create compound nouns!
下周《名师答疑》，我们将探索如何使用连字符构成复合名词！
And that’s Ask a Teacher. I’m Faith Pirlo.
以上就是《名师答疑》，我是费思·皮尔洛。
