0ENGLISH/ADJ.ORDER.

1 ADJECTIVE ORDER

Very often we can use more than one adjective to describe a person or a thing. When this happens, we normally put the adjectives in the following order
before the noun:

NATIONALITY
PERSONAL SIZE QUALITY AGE SHAPE COLOUR MATERIAL WHAT NOUN
OPINION. KIND?
WHAT
What do I How big is What How old is it? What shape is What colour Where does it What is it FOR?
think of it? it? qualities has it? is it? come from? made of? What is it
it got? used for?

A beautiful large expensive new square brown Italian leather shopping BAG

Obviously the majority of sentences do not contain as many adjectives as the example shown above, but remember that, as a general rule, the adjective
which is nearest the noun has the closest link with the noun and expresses the most permanent quality.
For example, in the phrase A NICE WOODEN PICTURE FRAME (un bonito marco de madera para un cuadro/foto), the word PICTURE is closely
linked to “frame” The word “nice” is not closely linked and it is only a matter or personal opinion.

.Exercise. Put the adjectives in brackets in the correct position before the noun.

1.- I want some apples. (RED / TASTY / BIG / EATING). ...........................................................................................................................................

2.- She is wearing a scarf. (BEAUTIFUL / ITALIAN / SILK / PURPLE) .........................................................................................................................
3.- My best friend is a lady. (SPANISH / OLD / LITTLE / GREY-HAIRED ) .................................................................................................................
4.- We’re going to stay in a house. (100 YEAR-OLD / WOODEN / CHARMING) .........................................................................................................
5.- I want to buy that ring. (EXPENSIVE / GOLD / ENGAGEMENT ) ...........................................................................................................................
6.- We need chairs. (KITCHEN / BLUE / METAL / CHEAP) ..........................................................................................................................................
7.- I like your boots. (RIDING / NEW / SIZE 10 / LEATHER / BLACK ) ......................................................................................................................
Copyright P.R.M. Academia Oxford. OR 1
UNIT 1