Adjective Order guidelines and examples

Adjective Order

Adjective order refers to the correct sequence in which multiple adjectives should be placed before a noun. In English, adjectives follow a specific pattern to ensure clarity and natural flow in sentences. While there may be exceptions based on context, adhering to these guidelines helps in maintaining consistency in your descriptions.

Guidelines for Adjective Order:

• Opinion: Adjectives that express subjective judgments or opinions come first. Examples:
  • “A charming park”
  • “An exciting film”
• Size and Shape: Adjectives describing the size or shape of the noun follow opinion adjectives. Examples:
  • “A tiny room”
  • “A round cake”
• Age: Adjectives indicating age come after size and shape. Examples:
  • “A new car”
  • “An ancient building”
• Color: Adjectives related to color follow age. Examples:
  • “A green jacket”
  • “A yellow flower”
• Origin: Adjectives referring to origin or nationality come after color. Examples:
  • “A Japanese car”
  • “An American author”
• Material: Adjectives that describe what something is made of follow origin. Examples:
  • “A leather wallet”
  • “A silver necklace”
• Purpose: Adjectives indicating the purpose or function of an object come last. Examples:
  • “A study desk”
  • “A cooking pot”

Example Sentences with Multiple Adjectives:

Here are some sentences using multiple adjectives in the correct order:

• “I bought a charming small round French ceramic plate.”
• “He is a tall, athletic, and creative individual.”
• “She wore a long, sleek, luxurious silk dress.”
• “We enjoyed a fresh, homemade, sweet lemon cake.”
• “They moved into a lovely cozy beachside apartment.”
• “I bought a medium-sized square metal dining table.”
• “She is an experienced, talented, and dedicated surgeon.”
• “He received a gorgeous, rare, ruby bracelet.”
• “They admired the bright, multicolored, blooming tulips in the garden.”
• “The children played with the energetic, fluffy, playful rabbit.”
• “We hiked through a dense, mysterious, fog-covered jungle.”

By following these general guidelines for adjective order, you ensure that your descriptions are clear, logical, and sound natural to native English speakers. Organizing adjectives properly allows for smooth, coherent sentences that effectively convey the intended meaning.