Awriter should hyphenate a compound modifier that
a. contains an adverb ending in -ly.
b. comes after the noun it modifies.
c. comes before the noun it modifies.
d. contains an adjective ending in -ive.

C. comes before the noun it modifies.

Hyphens are usually required for compound adjectives. A compound adjective is the group of words that join together to modify a noun. If the modifier comes after the noun, a hyphen is not needed. Therefore a writer should use a hyphen that comes before the noun it modifies.

its c,  took the test

that’s the kind of bug henry was; and if we’d a had him along ’stead of our kings, he’d a fooled that town a heap worse than ourn done.”