Order adjectives

Key Notes:

  • Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns.
  • Example: A tall building (tall describes the building).

  • When more than one adjective is used to describe a noun, they must follow a particular order for the sentence to sound natural and be grammatically correct.
  • Incorrect: She wore a red beautiful dress.
  • Correct: She wore a beautiful red dress.

Adjectives generally follow this order:

1. Quantity or number

  • Example: two, several, many, few, one
  • She has two large dogs.

2. Quality or opinion

  • Example: beautiful, interesting, funny, horrible
  • It was an exciting day.

3. Size

  • Example: small, large, tiny, huge
  • He lives in a small house.

4. Age

  • Example: old, young, new, ancient
  • That is an old wooden chair.

5. Shape

  • Example: round, square, oval, triangular
  • She has a round table.

6. Color

  • Example: red, blue, yellow, green
  • They have a blue car.

7. Proper adjective (often nationality or origin)

  • Example: American, French, Mexican
  • It’s a French pastry.

8. Material

  • Example: wooden, metallic, cotton, plastic
  • I bought a wooden table.

9. Purpose or qualifier (used to describe the use or function of something)

  • Example: cooking, sleeping, racing, swimming
  • She owns a racing car.

  • Three small old wooden French chairs.
    • Three (quantity) + small (size) + old (age) + wooden (material) + French (origin)

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