The order of adjectives is so that you don't write more than one adjective randomly in a sentence. This order needs to be followed according to the type of each adjective. See the example below:
Sometimes we can use more than one adjective in a sentence:
Ex: It's a beautiful round table.
(it's a table pretty, round and made of wood.)
But there is a correct way, that is, an order in which these adjectives are written before the noun. For this we must know what are the types of adjectives and their orders:
• Types of Adjectives:
OPINION= indicates what you think about it, that is, OPINION!
1- Opinion: indicates opinion.
Examples: horrible, difficult, fun, etc.
FACT= indicates what is true, that is, the FACT!
2-Size: indicates size.
Examples: large, little, short, tall, etc.
3-Acts: indicates age.
Examples: new, old, adolescent, a year, etc.
4-Shape: indicates form.
Examples: round, flat, square, irregular, etc.
5-Color: indicates color.
Examples: red, blue, etc.
6-Origin: indicates the origin.
Examples: Brazilian, American, etc.
7-Religion: indicates religion.
Examples: Buddhist, Taoist, Pagan, etc.
8-Material: indicates the type of material which is made.
examples: wooden, paper, metal, etc.
9-Purpose: indicates the purpose of its use.
Examples: sleeping bag, computer table, football field, etc.
• Order of Adjectives:
Now that you know what types of adjectives are, you need to know the correct order when writing them. To make it easier, break the sentence this way:
Ex: A beautiful large round wooden table.
(A nice, wide, round table made of wood.)
1st - divide the sentence separating the adjectives from the noun;
2nd - separate the adjectives into: opinion or fact;
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
3rd- order correctly.
| Adjectives | noun |
|||||||
| opinion | Fact | noun |
||||||
| size | act | shape | color | origin | religion | material | purpose | noun |
| beautiful | large | round | wooden | table |
Another examples:
* A big round pink plastic ball. (A large, round, pink, plastic ball.)
* An interesting young woman. (An interesting young woman.)
* Small blue eyes. (Small blue eyes.)
* An old American song. (An old American song.)
* A nice big new red plastic sleeping bag. (A good, new, red, plastic sleeping bag.)
| Adjectives | noun |
|||||||
| opinion | Fact | noun |
||||||
| size | act | shape | color | origin | religion | material | purpose | noun |
| big | round | pink | plastic | ball |
||||
| interesting | young | woman |
||||||
| small | blue | eyes |
||||||
| old | American | song |
||||||
| nice | big | new | red | plastic | sleeping | bag |
See more:
Adjectives - Learn about ways to compare adjectives;
Degree of Adjectives - Know the degree of adjectives;
Adriana Petriccione
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Arts from the University of Santo Amaro – UNISA
Graduated in Pedagogy from Bandeirante University of São Paulo – UNIBAN
English - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PETRICCIONE, Adriana. "Adjectives order"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/adjectives-order-ordem-dos-adjetivos.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
