well-ventilated

[user_gary]

we(the college) have a spacious well ventilated and equipped computerised library which makes learning more interesting.

I think the adjectives which modifies the library in the sentence is (well-ventilated, well-equipped and computerised).

I wonder then why there is no comma between equipped and computerised as the `computerised' is an adjective stands on its own.

Please help me.

[bianca]

The reason why there is no comma between the adjectives is that the adjectives in your sentence are so-called cumulative adjectives - meaning that they do not modify independently (i.e. separated by a comma). So, no comma between them.

One way to help recognize when/ when not to use commas is to place the word 'and' between the adjectives and see if the sentence still sounds right.

Let's see here:

We have a spacious and well-ventilated library. / an equipped and computerized library. (still sounds correct; so, no comma between the adjectives)

The man who stole my wallet is a dirty and rotten scoundrel. (now sounds wrong)
It should be a comma between the adjectives: he is a dirty, rotten scoundrel. (sorry for this example)

[user_gary]

Thank you.

I think, well ventilated and equipped means (well ventilated, well equipped) in the sentence.

Am I right?

[bianca]

oh yes, I guess you are right.
but, it depends on the context.

[user_gary]

But Bianca, you used the term `cumulative adjective', which I never heard so far.

Could you give me some links, where I can learn about `cumulative adjective'?

Are you mean `compound adjective'?, if yes, then I don't want.

[bianca]

As I said above, the comma may be used between some adjectives (coordinate adjectives, which cannot have 'and' in between - you have the ex. with the dirty, rotten scoundrel) but not between others, so-called conjunctive adjectivs (which sound correct with 'and' in between - your sentence!).

Compond adjectives are smth else, they are joined by a hyphen (as in 'a freckle-faced child').
Here you can get some more info about using a comma.

THE COMMA

[Barb_D]

we(the college) have a spacious well ventilated and equipped computerised library which makes learning more interesting.

I think the adjectives which modifies the library in the sentence is (well-ventilated, well-equipped and computerised).

I wonder then why there is no comma between equipped and computerised as the `computerised' is an adjective stands on its own.

Please help me.

I do NOT read this as "well-equipped" and there is nothing here that gives me the clue that "well" extends to equipped and not only to "ventilated."

(As a side note, I would never describe a building as "well-ventilated" unless that directly related to the function of the building - such a paint manufacturing plant. A library doesn't have to be well ventilated. You may instead want to say "airy.")

[bianca]

Both 'airy' and 'well ventilated' go fine with a room or library in the sense of its being open and exposed to the free passage of air. 'Ventilated' has a more elegant ring to it, its etymology is Latin. However, I agree that it cannot easily be inferred from the context that 'well' applies to 'equipped' as well - but again, it could be.

[RonBee]

My two cents.

I would place a comma after spacious because of the words between spacious and computerised library. Thus you have:

We(the college) have a spacious, well ventilated and equipped computerised library which makes learning more interesting.

Perhaps the comma makes it more clear that well modifies both ventilated and equipped.

~R

[bianca]

oh yeah, gotcha.What about the comma between equipped and computerized, then?