To describe a noun in English grammar, we use an adjective; the simplest use of adjectives is in the adjective phrase when a sentence begins with an adjective to give context, clarity, or give description. But what do you do when you have multiple adjectives for one noun?
Well, you can’t just randomly write them in a sentence. There’s a special order for them, depending on their category.
There are 9 general categories of adjectives based on the characteristics they describe, and each of them has a different form of inflection. Not everyone agrees on the exact class of adjectives, but most English speakers follow specific grammar rules when ordering adjectives.
It’s common to have one or two adjectives before a noun. And sometimes we even use three. Using more than that is rare, but if you do want to string that many together, follow this order!
Using the correct order of adjectives in English is something that native speakers do automatically, but it can be really tricky when learning English as non-native speakers. But don’t worry – as you practice, it will start to get easier.
When following English grammar rules, this is generally how the position of adjectives is formed in sentences. If you want to use a few adjectives in a sentence, use them in the following order!
1. Determiner (quantity)
Examples
2. opinion
Examples
3. Size
Examples
4. Physical quality/shape
Examples
5. Age
Examples
6. Color
Examples
Examples
8. Material/origin
Examples
9. Type/purpose/qualifier
Examples
There are many examples of adjectives, all with different forms and categories. Luckily each one has a simple rule to follow!
The first word in a string of cumulative adjectives may be a determiner, and this is a word used with a noun that helps to identify it. While determiners from adjectives aren’t necessarily adjectives, it’s often part of the category of adjectives.
Determiners can be words like articles, cardinal or ordinal numbers, demonstratives, or possessive adjectives, and they are nonsubjective adjectives.
Here are some examples of possible determiners:
Quantity sometimes overlaps with the “determiner” category. Adjectives of quantity are words that describe how many things you’re talking about and are often used when collocating adjectives.
As the name suggests, opinions are descriptive adjectives that we use to say what we think of the noun. They are not nonsubjective adjectives, as they are distorted by personal opinion. Some people distinguish between adjectives like this when stating general and specific opinions.
General opinions can be noun modifiers. For example, you can use the word good to describe many different things.
But with some attribute adjectives, you can only use them for certain categories of nouns. For instance, you can say “a delicious meal,” but you can’t say “a delicious book.” As well you can say “a friendly person” or “a friendly cat,” but you can’t say “a friendly book.”
In adjective order, we put general opinions in front of specific ones.
Next up in our category of adjectives list, we have adjectives that attribute adjectives to indicate the size of something. Here are some examples. You can use the adjectives in their comparative form.
Then, you describe what something looks like.
There are a few disagreements on how to divide and make the distinction between adjectives in this category. Some people treat attributive adjectives to describe physical quality and shape in the same category. Others don’t.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary of English, there is a difference between physical quality and shape, and physical quality goes first.
However, some people don’t bother to make two separate categories because there is some overlap. And others put the shape category farther down the list, between age and color.
If you want to follow the Cambridge standard, here are some examples of physical quality:
And here are some examples of shapes:
This is where you describe how old (or young) something is, and you'll often see these words when collocating adjectives.
Next comes any color in the rainbow!
Flip the flashcards for more examples.
In this category, we have proper adjectives like nationalities, cultures, or religions. Remember that these should always be capitalized and don't have superlative forms.
Here are some examples:
Hopefully, these material adjectives help you order and coordinate adjectives. These examples describe what something is made of or where it comes from.
When it comes to these categories, there is some difference of opinion on what to call them. Not everyone separates this class of adjectives or uses them at all.
But the important thing to understand is that these adjectives explain the occurrences of adjectives and what they are used for.
For example:
Now that you know what order the adjectives should come in, how do you correctly write them in prepositional phrases and sentences?
Coordinative adjectives are when two or more adjectives work side by side to modify the same noun. If you only have two adjectives in front of a noun, sometimes you use a comma, and sometimes you don’t.
If the adjectives come from two different forms of adjectives, skip the comma.
If they come from the same forms of adjectives, use a comma or and.
However, keep in mind that you never put a comma between a determiner and an adjective in noun phrases.
If you want to string lots of adjectives together, place commas between them. But never put a comma between the final cumulative adjectives and compound nouns.
Here are some examples:
In most of these examples, adjectives come before the noun. However, you can put adjectives afterward, making them predicative adjectives.
When you do this, you may need both commas and the word and.
If only two adjectives exist, just use and, not a comma. Follow this rule even if the adjectives come from the same category. For example:
If there are three or more adjectives, use commas between the first words in the list and between the last two.
Predicative Adjectives can also be used in the passive form.
Select the correct order in the following sentences.
Sally has a _______ hat.
Choose the best answer from the choices below
Tommy drove a _______ car.
Choose the best answer from the choices below
The cake that you _______ .
Choose the best answer from the choices below
It is _______.
Choose the best answer from the choices below
While this might seem like a lot of information, don’t be scared! With practice, the simpler adjectives and adjectival meanings will become.
So, keep listening to how others speak and pay attention when prepositional phrases you read. That way, you’ll become familiar with what sounds right.
And in the meantime, check out the other grammar pages on this website. There are lots of interesting things to learn!