Adjective Order

As you already know, adjectives go before nouns. And it’s possible to have more than one adjective before a noun too. Actually there is an order that adjectives go in! The order is…

Opinion >> Size >> Age >> Shape >> Color >> Origin >> Material >> Purpose

You can use two or three adjectives before a noun, without using and; a comma is sufficient to separate them. For example…

An ugly, little, hairy dog

The new, blue, suede shoes

(opinion >> size >> material)

(age >> color >> material)

Notice that the pattern is…

article + adjective, adjective, adjective + noun

Here’s a table with examples of these types of adjectives.


opinion   size         age       shape     color  origin     material purpose

pretty     tiny        young   triangular pink   solar      wood      frying
horrible    medium   modern  square    silver Chinese   metal     sleeping
incredible enormous ancient round     dark   southern glass      recording 


Now, you try. Take two or three adjectives from the list above and put them in the correct order to describe something.

It’s difficult to memorize the word order of adjectives, but overtime, after hearing it, you’ll get used to the word order and you’ll be able to say it correctly!