Order of Adjectives in English with Examples & Details

What Is the Order of Adjectives?

The order of adjectives refers to the specific sequence in which multiple adjectives are arranged in English to describe a noun. This order is generally intuitive for native speakers but can be challenging for learners. When multiple adjectives are used, they typically follow a particular order based on their type.

Definitions

• Opinion: These adjectives express what someone thinks about something (e.g., beautiful, ugly, interesting).
• Size: These adjectives describe the size of something (e.g., large, small, tiny, huge).
• Age: These adjectives denote the age of something (e.g., young, old, ancient, new).
• Shape: These adjectives describe the shape of something (e.g., round, square, triangular).
• Color: These adjectives indicate the color of something (e.g., red, blue, green, yellow).
• Origin: These adjectives describe where something comes from (e.g., American, French, Asian).
• Material: These adjectives tell what something is made of (e.g., wooden, metal, plastic).

Order of Adjectives Chart

Examples of Order of Adjectives

1. Quantity/Number + Quality/Opinion + Size + Age + Shape + Color + Origin + Material + Purpose + Noun
   • Three beautiful large old round red Chinese wooden sleeping bags.
2. Quantity/Number + Quality/Opinion + Size + Color + Material + Noun
   • Several elegant small green plastic cups.
3. Quality/Opinion + Size + Age + Color + Material + Noun
   • A lovely big ancient brown leather suitcase.

Useful Rules of Order of Adjectives

1. Quantifiers and Numbers First: Always start with adjectives that indicate quantity or number.
   • Example: “two big apples,” not “big two apples.”
2. Opinion Before Fact: Adjectives that are subjective (opinion) come before those that are objective (fact).
   • Example: “a beautiful new car,” not “a new beautiful car.”
3. Size and Shape Before Color: Size and shape adjectives precede color adjectives.
   • Example: “a large round table,” not “a round large table.”
4. Age Before Color and Origin: Age adjectives come before color and origin adjectives.
   • Example: “an old blue French book,” not “a blue old French book.”
5. Material Before Purpose: Material adjectives are placed before purpose adjectives.
   • Example: “a metal cooking pot,” not “a cooking metal pot.”

1. Keep the order consistent: Adjectives generally follow the OPSHACOM sequence. Rearranging them can make sentences sound awkward or confusing.
2. Not all adjectives are necessary: Not every noun will have adjectives from each category. Use only the adjectives that are relevant.
3. Commas and conjunctions: When multiple adjectives from the same category are used, they are typically separated by commas or conjunctions.
   • Example: She has a beautiful, charming personality.
4. Avoid overloading sentences: Using too many adjectives can make a sentence cumbersome. Be selective and prioritize the most important descriptors.
5. Compound adjectives: When two adjectives function together as a single idea, they can be hyphenated.
   • Example: a well-known author, a two-year-old child.

See More “Comparison of Adjectives”

By understanding and applying the order of adjectives, writing can become clearer and more natural, reflecting the nuances of the English language.

Additional Examples of Order of Adjectives

1. An interesting small antique vase
   • Quantity: (implied one)
   • Opinion: interesting
   • Size: small
   • Age: antique
   • Noun: vase
2. Four gorgeous modern black Italian sports cars
   • Quantity: four
   • Opinion: gorgeous
   • Age: modern
   • Color: black
   • Origin: Italian
   • Purpose: sports
   • Noun: cars
3. Several tasty big round red apples
   • Quantity: several
   • Opinion: tasty
   • Size: big
   • Shape: round
   • Color: red
   • Noun: apples

Conclusion

Understanding and applying the order of adjectives can significantly improve clarity and fluency in English. While native speakers might follow these rules intuitively, they provide a clear framework for learners to structure their descriptions correctly. By practicing and internalizing these rules, one can produce natural-sounding, well-ordered descriptions.

FAQs about the Order of Adjectives

Q1: Why does the order of adjectives matter in English grammar?

A: The order of adjectives matters because it helps speakers and writers convey precise and coherent descriptions. Following a consistent order ensures that descriptions are clear and understandable to listeners and readers.

Q2: Can the order of adjectives change in different contexts?

A: Yes, the order of adjectives can change in different contexts depending on the emphasis or the importance of certain qualities. For example, “a delicious large pizza” emphasizes the size, whereas “a large delicious pizza” emphasizes the deliciousness.

Q3: Are there regional variations in the order of adjectives?

A: While the basic order of adjectives (OSPHACOM) is widely accepted, there can be subtle regional variations in how adjectives are ordered in specific dialects or informal speech. These variations often reflect local norms and preferences.

Q4: How do native speakers learn the order of adjectives?

A: Native speakers typically learn the order of adjectives through exposure to the language from a young age. They absorb the correct order through listening to others and speaking naturally, rather than through explicit rules.

Q5: What happens if I use the wrong order of adjectives?

A: Using the wrong order of adjectives can make your speech or writing sound awkward or confusing to native speakers. While they might still understand your meaning, it can disrupt the flow of communication.

Q6: Can adjectives in the same category be interchangeable in order?

A: Yes, adjectives in the same category (like size, color, or shape) can often be interchangeable in order. For example, “a large red balloon” and “a red large balloon” are both grammatically correct, although the former is more common.

Q7: How do I know if an adjective belongs to a specific category?

A: Adjectives can often be categorized by their meaning. For example, “beautiful” is an opinion adjective, “large” is a size adjective, “old” is an age adjective, “round” is a shape adjective, “blue” is a color adjective, “Italian” is an origin adjective, and “wooden” is a material adjective.

Q8: Can the order of adjectives change depending on the noun they describe?

A: Yes, the order of adjectives can change depending on the noun they describe. For example, “a red leather jacket” is more common than “a leather red jacket,” but “a red leather sofa” and “a leather red sofa” are equally acceptable.

Q9: Why do we sometimes use hyphens with multiple adjectives before a noun?

A: Hyphens are used to join multiple adjectives together when they act as a single idea before a noun. For example, “a well-known author,” “a two-year-old child,” or “a five-star hotel.”

Q10: Can adjectives sometimes be placed after the noun?

A: Yes, adjectives can be placed after the noun for stylistic or rhetorical purposes. This is more common in literary or poetic contexts to create a specific effect. For example, “the city dark and silent” or “a hero brave and true.”