Adjectives

The Correct Order

In English, it is common to use more than one adjective before a noun – for example, “He’s a silly young fool” or “She’s a smart, energetic woman.”

When you use more than one adjective, you have to put them in the right order, according to type. Below you will find a table that explains the different types of adjectives and the correct order for them.

Opinion

An opinion adjective explains what you think about something (other people may not agree with you).
Examples: silly, beautiful, horrible, difficult

Size

A size adjective, of course, tells you how big or small something is.
Examples: large, tiny, enormous, little

Age

An age adjective tells you how young or old something or someone is.
Examples: ancient, new, young, old

Shape

A shape adjective describes the shape of something.
Examples: square, round, flat, rectangular

Colour

A colour adjective, of course, describes the colour of something.
Examples: blue, pink, reddish, grey

Origin

An origin adjective describes where something comes from.
Examples: French, lunar, American, eastern, Greek

Material

A material adjective describes what something is made from.
Examples: wooden, metal, cotton, paper

Purpose

A purpose adjective describes what something is used for. These adjectives often end with “-ing”.
Examples: sleeping (as in “sleeping bag”), roasting (as in “roasting tin”)

Some examples of adjective order

 

Opinion

Size

Age

Shape

Colour

Origin

Material

Purpose

 

a

Silly

 

Young

 

 

English

 

 

man

a

 

Huge

 

Round

 

 

Metal

 

bowl

a

 

small

 

 

red

 

 

Sleeping

bag

Practice Time!

Which is the correct order?

Correct
Incorrect

Which is the correct order?

Correct
Incorrect

Which is the correct order?

Correct
Incorrect

Which is the correct order?

Correct
Incorrect

Which is the correct order?

Correct
Incorrect