Mastering the Order of Adjectives: Clear Examples and Rules

Adjective Orders:

The Order of Adjectives is the way we arrange different words that are used to describe a noun. When we use more than one adjective to describe a noun, there is a specific order we usually follow.

Quantity or number:

Quantity or number is referred to the first element in the order of adjectives when you want to describe a noun. It used to indicate how many or how much of the noun there is. The following words are used to tell a specific number or quantity, such as two, many, few, some, or several.

She has three cats at home.
There are several books on the table.
He ate two slices of pizza for lunch.

Quality or opinion:

Quality or opinion is referred to the judgments that describe a noun. This is about expressing opinions or giving information about the nature or state of the noun. It has adjectives that are used to describe the noun’s inborn qualities, such as whether it’s good, bad, beautiful, ugly, interesting, boring, etc.

She has a beautiful garden.
He found an interesting book.
It was a challenging puzzle.

Size:

Size is referred to how big or small something is. When we use size as an adjective to describe a noun, we are talking about its dimensions. It helps convey information about the physical extent or hugeness of an object.

They moved into a large house on the outskirts of the city.
She carried a small purse to the event.
The tiny kitten fit perfectly in the palm of his hand.

Age:

Age is basically referred to the age of a noun or the thing being described. When we use adjectives to talk about how old something is, we place the age adjective in the fourth position.

The young child was eager to start school.
She found an ancient artifact buried in the garden.
He adopted a five-year-old dog from the shelter.

Shape:

Shape is referred to the physical form or outline of an object. When multiple adjectives are used to describe a noun, shape comes after age and before color in the sequence.

The artist painted a round vase filled with flowers.
She admired the square tiles on the kitchen floor.
The kids played with a triangular puzzle piece.

Color:

The color comes after shape and before proper adjective.

She wore a red dress to the party.
He painted the walls a soothing blue.
The garden was full of green plants and blooming flowers.

Proper Adjective:

A proper adjective is used to describe another noun. It usually comes near the end of the order of adjectives.

She bought a French baguette.
We visited the Italian restaurant.
He wore a shirt made of silk.

Purpose or Qualifier:

It helps to tell us why something is the way it is.

He bought a new sports car for the weekend races.
The kids are excited to visit the swimming pool this summer.
She signed up for a cooking class to improve her culinary skills.

Adjective Orders Examples:

Enjoy the refreshing taste of icy lemonade.
His mysterious smile intrigued everyone.
The vibrant sunset painted the sky.
Feel the silky sand between your toes.
The cat’s fur was soft and comforting.
Dive into the crisp waters of the lake.
Witness the dazzling city lights at night.
Savor the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Embrace the cozy warmth of a crackling fireplace.
Experience the thrilling rush of a roller coaster ride.