BY- SANJEEV RATHORE

Adjective

Order of adjectives

How to order adjectives in English

In many languages, adjectives denoting attributes usually occur

in a specific order. Generally, the adjective order in English is:

•Quantity or number

•Quality or opinion

•Size

•Age

•Shape

•Color

Adjective Rules

Question - Error Adjective Rules

Proper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin, or

material)

Purpose or qualifier

For example:

•I love that really big old green antique car that always

parked at the end of the street.

•My sister adopted a beautiful big white bulldog.

Adjective Rules

When there are two or more adjectives that are from the

same group, the word and is placed between the two

adjectives:

•The house is green and red.

•The library has old and new books.

Adjective

When there are three or more adjectives from the same

adjective group, place a comma between each of the

coordinate 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 watch.

•A comma is not placed between an adjective and the noun.

Adjective

More examples:

•I love that beautiful old big green antique car that always parked at

the end of the street. [quality – age – size – color – proper adjective]

•My sister has a big beautiful tan and white bulldog. [size – quality –

color – color]

•A wonderful old Italian clock. [opinion – age – origin]

•A big square blue box. [dimension – shape – color]

•A disgusting pink plastic ornament. [opinion – color – material]

•Some slim new French trousers. [dimension – age – origin]

•An amazing new American movie. [opinion – age – origin]

•I bought a pair of black leather shoes. [color – material]

Adjective

Order of adjectives

exercises

1. Choose the best answer

for each sentence.

A. The house is _______.

a) large and white

b) white and large

c) large white

d) None of these

B. They live in a _______

house.

a) large and white

b) white and large

c) large white

d) None of these

Adjective

1.

Answers: A – (a) – large and white

B – (c)– large white

Adjective

2. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?

a) We took a ride on a blue, old Chinese bus.

b) We took a ride on a Chinese, old, blue bus.

c) We took a ride on an old, blue Chinese bus.

d) None of these.

Adjective

2. Answer: C

Adjective

3. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?

a) I’d like three good reasons why you don’t like spinach.

b) I’d like a good three reasons why you don’t like spinach.

c) I’d like good reasons three why you don’t like spinach.

d) None of these.

Adjective

3. Answer: A

Adjective

4. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?

a) I like that really big red old antique tractor in the

museum.

b) I like that really big old red antique tractor in the

museum.

c) I like that old, red, really big antique tractor in the

museum.

d) None of these.

Adjective

4. Answer: B

Adjective

5. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?

a) My brother rode a beautiful big black Friesian horse in

the parade.

b) My brother rode a beautiful Friesian big black horse in

the parade.

c) My brother rode a big, black, beautiful Friesian horse in

the parade.

d) None of these.

Adjective

5. Answer: A

Adjective

6. For each of the following sentences, choose the correct

order of adjectives to fill in the blank.

A. My grandmother lives in the _______ house on the corner

a) little blue, green and white

b) little blue and green and white

c) little, blue, green, and white

d) None of these.

Adjective

6. Answers: A – (a) – little blue, green and white

Adjective

B. The store carries an

assortment of _______

objects.

a) interesting new, old and

antique

b) new, old, interesting and

antique

c) interesting, old and new

and antique

d) None of these.

C. We went for a two-

week cruise on a ________

ocean liner.

a) incredible brand-new,

huge Italian

b) incredible, huge,

brand-new Italian

c) Italian incredible,

brand-new, huge

d) None of these.

Adjective

6. Answer - B – (a) – interesting new, old and antique

C- (b) – incredible, huge, brand-new Italian

Adjective

7. For each of the following sentences, choose the correct

order of adjectives to fill in the blank.

A. I bought a pair of ______ boots.

a) new, nice, red rain

b) nice new red rain

c) red nice new rain

d) None of these

Adjective

7. Answer – A – (b) – nice new red rain

Adjective

B. My dad was thrilled with

his gift of __________

bowties for his clown act.

a) three squirting new nice

big polka-dotted

b) three polka-dotted nice

new squirting

c) three nice big new polka-

dotted squirting

d) None of these.

C. Please put the marbles

into that

______________________

box.

a) round little old red

b) little old round red

c) little old red round

d) None of these.

Adjective

7. Answer - B – (c) - three nice big new polka-dotted squirting

C – (b) - little old round red

Adjective

8. For each of the following sentences, choose the correct

order of adjectives to fill in the blank:

I was surprised to receive a __________________ puppy for

my birthday.

a) little, cute, eight-week-old golden retriever

b) cute eight-week-old little golden retriever

c) cute little eight-week-old golden retriever

d) None of these

Adjective

8. Answer -(c) – cute little eight-week-old golden retriever

Adjective

9. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?

a) Our grandparents drive a motorhome with black and

white stripes.

b) Our grandparents drive a motorhome with black with

white stripes.

c) Our grandparents drive a motorhome with black, white

stripes.

d) None of these

Adjective

9. Answer: A

Adjective

10. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?

a) During my college years, I wore a red, white and black

big hat to sporting events.

b) During my college years, I wore a big red, white and

black hat to sporting events.

c) During my college years, I wore a big red white and

black, hat to sporting events.

d) None of these

Adjective

10. Answer: B