Order of adjectives

Order of adjectives

When we use several adjectives before a noun, there is a proper way of putting them in order.

Opinion comes before fact.

opinion (beautiful, delicious, ugly, interesting)

fact (new, Italian, black, old)

• A beautiful old cottage
• A delicious Italian pizza

A general idea comes before a specific idea.

general (long, new, cold, big)
specific (American, wooden)

• An old wooden chair
• A big American car

 

Order of adjectives

Number	First, second, one, two, three
Opinion	Pretty, disgusting, funny, tasty, important
Size	Big, tall, huge, small, short, little
Age	New, old, young, ancient
Shape	Square, circular, cubic, triangular
Color	Blue, red, green, black, white
Origin	Korean, Indian, American, Italian
Material	Golden, wooden, plastic, silk, leather
Purpose	A sleeping bag, a fishing boat, cooking oil

 

Usually, we do not use more than three adjectives in a sentence, but if we do, it’s correct.

• A beautiful long old brown American wooden fishing boat.

Determiner	Opinion	Size	Age	Shape	Color	Origin	Material	Purpose	Noun
a	valuable		old			Italian			clock
those				round			wooden	kitchen	tables
his		small		black			leather		wallet

 

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