Adjectives are the essential spice in language, adding depth and vividness to descriptions. They tell us about size, colour, age, material, and so much more. But when we string several adjectives together, is there a rule to follow? Indeed, there is! Understanding the correct order of adjectives in English is a crucial skill, especially if you’re working on essays or creative writing. In this post, we’ll break down the order of adjectives in English with examples and provide a handy guide for writing fluent, well-structured sentences.
What Is the Correct Order of Adjectives?
When native English speakers describe an object, they tend to use adjectives in a specific sequence without even thinking about it. This pattern isn’t a matter of personal style or preference—it’s a rule. To speak or write English fluently, it’s essential to understand this natural sequence, which can otherwise make sentences sound strange or confusing.
The correct order of adjectives is as follows:
- Quantity – How many?
- Opinion – What is your impression of it?
- Size – How big or small is it?
- Age – How old is it?
- Shape – What shape does it have?
- Colour – What colour is it?
- Origin – Where does it come from?
- Material – What is it made of?
- Purpose – What is it used for?
This sequence is fixed, meaning adjectives need to be placed in this exact order to form natural-sounding English sentences. Let’s look at these categories more closely and see them in action.
Breaking Down the Order of Adjectives with Examples
- Quantity
The first step in ordering adjectives is determining how many of the object you’re describing. Words that fit into this category include numbers (two, five, a dozen) and general amounts (some, a few, many).- Example: “three blue pens,” “a few colourful posters”
- Opinion
Next comes the opinion, which expresses a subjective viewpoint. These are words like “beautiful,” “charming,” or “elegant,” describing what the speaker thinks about the object.- Example: “an adorable little puppy,” “a stunning vintage dress”
- Size
After opinion, we add adjectives describing size. This category tells us how large or small the item is.- Example: “a gigantic, ancient tree,” “a small, colourful rug”
- Age
The fourth position in the order of adjectives is reserved for age-related descriptors, such as “new,” “old,” “young,” or “ancient.”- Example: “a young, energetic cat,” “an old leather-bound book”
- Shape
The shape of an item—round, square, oval—follows age. Adjectives in this category can be visual (round) or abstract (complex).- Example: “a round wooden table,” “an oval silver frame”
- Colour
After shape, we add adjectives describing colour, which can include variations and shades like “deep blue,” “pale green,” or “scarlet.”- Example: “a crimson velvet curtain,” “a pale pink flower”
- Origin
Following colour, we specify the origin, which indicates where the object is from. This could refer to a country, region, or culture, such as “Italian,” “Chinese,” or “African.”- Example: “a Japanese ceramic vase,” “an Italian marble statue”
- Material
Material comes next and describes what the item is made of. Examples include “wooden,” “glass,” “leather,” and “cotton.”- Example: “a cotton summer dress,” “a wooden picnic table”
- Purpose
Finally, we end with purpose. This describes what the item is used for and often appears as a compound word with the noun it modifies. Words in this category include “sleeping” (sleeping bag), “swimming” (swimming pool), and “cleaning” (cleaning cloth).- Example: “a large cooking pot,” “a tiny reading lamp”
Using these guidelines, let’s build a full sentence that uses adjectives in the correct order:
- Example: “She bought two lovely, small, round, green, French glass flower vases.”
While this may feel lengthy, English speakers often intuitively use only a few adjectives, resulting in a more natural flow. However, when describing something in depth, following this order will make your descriptions clear and sound natural.
Practice Makes Perfect: Adjective Order Exercises
To reinforce how to order adjectives, try constructing sentences using the above list. For example:
- Describe an antique wooden chair with red paint: “an old, red, wooden chair.”
- Describe a stack of five thick books: “five heavy, thick books.”
Practising this will not only help in recognising the correct order of adjectives but will also improve your fluency and confidence when describing things in English.
Common Mistakes When Ordering Adjectives
Some common mistakes occur when adjectives are out of order, making sentences sound awkward. Here are a few examples to avoid:
- Out of Order:
- Incorrect: “a red big American truck”
- Correct: “a big red American truck”
- Using Too Many Adjectives:
- Incorrect: “a lovely nice small young adorable puppy”
- Correct: “an adorable little puppy”
While it may seem fun to add multiple adjectives, too many descriptors can make sentences cluttered. Stick to the essentials for clarity and readability.
Tips for Remembering Adjective Order
1. Use the Mnemonic OSASCOMP
OSASCOMP (Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material, Purpose) is an easy way to recall the order. Many people find that this helpful phrase stays in their minds when trying to remember the order.
2. Practice with Real Objects Around You
Practice describing items around you to reinforce the correct order. For example, look at a cup of tea, and try, “a small, vintage, porcelain tea cup.” Or, describe a car on the street as “a sleek, new, silver sports car.”
3. Read Native English Content
Exposure to English writing from native speakers, such as books, articles, and essays, will help you get a feel for how adjectives are used naturally. The more you read, the more comfortable you’ll become with this ordering.
Getting Adjectives in the Correct Order
Understanding the order of adjectives in English is a fantastic way to improve the flow and accuracy of your descriptions. With practice, this structure will become second nature. Whether you’re describing an object, person, or place, applying these rules will make your English sound more polished and authentic.
If you’re a student and English isn’t your first language, structuring sentences with the correct order of adjectives can be challenging. Writing essays that meet academic standards often requires fluency in grammar and a knack for style. This is where we can help. At My Private Essay, helping you polish your essays and improve clarity, flow, and vocabulary. Whether you’re working on a specific assignment or an essay, we’ll help you elevate your English and communicate your ideas with confidence. Feel free to reach out, to learn more about our custom essay writing services!