Meaning & use
V-shaped things
Last updated
Meaning
phraseplural
Objects or shapes that look like the letter V, with two lines meeting at a point.
Grammar: A plural noun phrase; use it as the subject or object, and keep the hyphen in V-shaped.
Patterns
- a V-shaped thing
- V-shaped objects
The kite and the paper airplane are both V-shaped things.
She drew a row of V-shaped things along the top of the card.
In the diagram, the V-shaped things show where the roof folds.
Common combinations
- a V-shaped neckline
- The dress has a deep V-shaped neckline.
- V-shaped valley
- Rivers often cut a V-shaped valley through soft rock.
- V-shaped formation
- The geese flew in a V-shaped formation.
- V-shaped mark
- There was a small V-shaped mark on the wall.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wedge-shaped
- Describes something thick and tapering to a point, so it fits solid objects better than flat letter-like shapes.
- forked
- Used for things split into two branches, such as a tongue or a road, but not for a clean V drawn on paper.
Word family
Commonly confused: V-shaped things or V-neck?
V-shaped things vs V-neck
A V-neck is specifically the neckline of a piece of clothing, while 'V-shaped things' is a general description of any object with that form.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Formation' is singular here, so the phrase 'a V-shaped formation' fits. Option 1 wrongly puts a plural noun after 'a', option 2 uses 'an' before a consonant sound, and option 3 changes the fixed phrase to a vague singular 'thing'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “V-shaped things”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.