Order of Adjectives in English (with Example Sentences)

How to arrange adjectives can be particularly tricky for English learners. It’s usually based on the category of the adjective. The order of adjectives in English is quantity, opinion/value, size, temperature, age, shape, color, origin, material and purpose.

There are some exceptions and there can be slight variations between the different types of English (such as American, British and Australian), but the more general adjectives usually go first. Let’s have a look at exactly how English adjective order works.

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Order	Category	Examples
1	Quantity	six, some, a lot of
2	Opinion/Value	amazing, terrible, comfortable
3	Size	small, bulky, compact
4	Temperature	lukewarm, frozen, steaming
5	Age	young, vintage, old
6	Shape	rectangular, curved, jagged
7	Color	silver, red, green
8	Origin	British, Cuban, Japanese
9	Material	silk, plastic, glass
10	Purpose	running shoes, sleeping bag, coffee table

1. Quantity

Adjectives describing the quantity of the noun come first. These include numbers:

one, 4.5, 100

Quantity can also be expressed through adjectives such as:

many, several, few

If you’re only referring to one object, person or place with the noun, you can simply use these articles:

a, an, the 

Example:

A mug

2. Opinion/Value

These adjectives communicate how the noun is viewed by yourself or others. These are subjective terms:

beautiful, unusual, annoying, delicious 

Example:

A beautiful mug

3. Size

Adjectives describing the size of the noun are placed next. This word tells the reader or listener how big or small the noun is. A variety of words can be used to explain this, including:

large, huge, tiny, mini

Example:

A beautiful large mug

One exception here that you may notice is the word “big,” which often comes before an opinion/value word. For example, “the big bad wolf” is a character in the story “The Three Little Pigs.”

4. Temperature

The adjectives placed next in line give information about the temperature, if necessary:

cold, cool, freezing, warm, hot

Example:

A beautiful large warm mug

5. Age

Age doesn’t have to be a number. Age can also be communicated with words that explain the time period or era the noun was created in or lived in. Adjectives used here could be:

new, modern, antique, prehistoric

Example:

A beautiful large warm modern mug

6. Shape

Next in line are the adjectives that describe the shape. Some of the words you could use to communicate the shape the noun looks like could be:

angular, round, square

Example:

A beautiful large warm modern round mug

7. Color

Adjectives describing color are positioned next:

brown, blue, silver 

These words can also be used when describing the coloring of a person’s hair or an animal’s fur:

brunette, blonde

Example:

A beautiful large warm modern round black mug

8. Origin

Adjectives that describe where the noun came from tell the reader or listener about its origin. These adjectives could include:

American, British, Dutch, Indian, Australian

Example:

A beautiful large warm modern round black European mug

9. Material

These adjectives simply indicate what the noun is made of. Adjectives here could be:

wood, metal, paper, silk, rubber

Example:

A beautiful large warm modern round black European stainless steel mug

10. Purpose

The last adjective before the noun describes its purpose. This explains what the noun is used for:

tennis ball (used for tennis), stirring spoon (used for stirring), diving pool (used for diving)

Example:

A beautiful large warm modern round black European stainless steel travel mug

How to Choose English Adjectives Wisely

I know what you’re thinking.

“A beautiful large warm modern round black European stainless steel travel mug” is a mouthful of a phrase!

That’s why it’s important not to use too many adjectives. Too many adjectives give off a very confusing message to readers and listeners.

Instead, focus on learning the position of each category so that when you do need one, you know exactly where to put it.

Look at this example:

A magnificent huge newly-opened blue American water swimming pool

Not all of these adjectives are relevant. We know that swimming pools are made of water and they’re blue.

On the other hand, mugs can be made from a variety of materials and could be any color.

Using an adjective that describes the color of a coffee mug is giving the listener or reader information they don’t already have. This information is relevant. It’s needed to create a more detailed picture in their mind.

As a general rule, try to focus on only two, three or four adjectives that’ll add the most description to your sentence. Once you’ve selected these few adjectives, simply place them in the order stated above.

A portable new black laptop

A pair of cozy, warm, fur-lined slippers 

Several old, thick hardcover books

Three disposable plastic pens

For a bit more guidance on the subject, it also helps to take a closer look at how native English speakers order their adjectives.

Read modern books and listen intently to movies, TV shows and other English language media, then try using descriptive phrases that you come across.

On the FluentU program, you can see how native speakers naturally use multiple adjectives in real English videos.

When to Use Commas Between Adjectives

When you use multiple adjectives from different categories, as we did above, they function as cumulative adjectives. You don’t need to put commas between cumulative adjectives.

However, if you used several adjectives from the same category, they’d be coordinate adjectives. You do need commas between coordinate adjectives, but their order doesn’t matter.

For example:

The stupid, pointless, frustrating homework assignment

These are all opinion/value adjectives, so they need commas and they could be rearranged:

The frustrating, pointless, stupid homework assignment

 

The best way to learn is to give it a go!

Challenge yourself and above all, have fun creating interesting sentences!

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