Order of Adjectives

► When using more than one adjective to describe a noun, place the adjectives in the following order before the noun:

Opinion + Size + Age + Shape + Color + Origin + Material (osas.com)

NOTE: We usually use no more than three adjectives preceding a noun.

1. Opinión: an interesting book, a boring lecture
2. Size: a big apple, a thin wallet
3. Age: a new car, a modern building, an ancient ruin
4. Shape: square box, an oval mask, a round ball
5. Color: a pink hat, a blue book, a black coat
6. Origin: some Italian shoes, a Canadian town, an American car
7. Material: a wooden box, a woolen sweater, a plastic toy

Here are some examples:

• A wonderful old Italian clock. (opinion - age - origin)
• A big square blue box. (size - shape - color)
• A disgusting pink plastic chair. (opinion - color - material)
• Some slim new French trousers. (size - age - origin)

► There you are a more complete diagram:

Opinion	Size	Age	Shape	Colour	Origin	Material	Purpose
silly		young			English			man
	huge		round			metal		bowl
	small			red			sleeping	bag

► Now order these sentences:

• book interesting - small - Spanish
• picture modern - ugly - rectangular
• opinion old - boring - American
• apple ripe - green - delicious
• suit woolen - large – black
• house beautiful - modern - small
• magazine German - slender - strange
• cap cotton - funny - green

► Some websites with exercises:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/adjord1.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/adjord2.htm

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/adjective_order.htm

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/adjective_order1.php3

► When there are 2 or more adjectives that are from the same group "and" is placed between the 2 adjectives.

• The house is green and red.
• The library has old and new books.

► When there are 3 or more adjectives from the same adjective group. Place a comma between each of the adjectives:

• We live in the big, green, white and red house at the end of the street.
• My friend lost a red, black and white dog, if you see it please let me know.