Generally, the adjective order in English is:
Quantity or number.
Quality or opinion.
Size.
Age.
Shape.
Color.
Proper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin, or material)
Purpose or qualifier.
For example:
1. I love that really big old green antique car that always parked at the end of the street.
2. My sister adopted a beautiful big white bulldog.
When there are two or more adjectives that are from the same group, the word and is placed
between the two adjectives:
1. The house is green and red.
2. The library has old and new books.
When there are three or more adjectives from the same adjective group, place a comma between
each of the coordinate adjectives:
1. We live in the big green, white and red house at the end of the street.
2. My friend lost a red, black and white watch.
A comma is not placed between an adjective and the noun.
Order of adjectives – examples
More examples:
1. I love that beautiful old big green antique car that always parked at the end of the street.
[quality – age – size – color – proper adjective]
2. My sister has a big beautiful tan and white bulldog. [size – quality – color – color]
3. A wonderful old Italian clock. [opinion – age – origin]
4. A big square blue box. [dimension – shape – color]
5. A disgusting pink plastic ornament. [opinion – color – material]
6. Some slim new French trousers. [dimension – age – origin]
7. An amazing new American movie. [opinion – age – origin]
8. I bought a pair of black leather shoes. [color – material]
Order of adjectives exercises
1. Choose the best answer for each sentence.
A. The house is __________________.
o large and white
o white and large
o large white
B. They live in a __________________ house.
o large and white
o white and large
o large white
Answers: A – large and white B – large white
2. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?
A. We took a ride on a blue, old Chinese bus.
B. We took a ride on a Chinese, old, blue bus.
C. We took a ride on an old, blue Chinese bus.
Answer: C
3. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?
A. I’d like three good reasons why you don’t like spinach.
B. I’d like a good three reasons why you don’t like spinach.
C. I’d like good reasons three why you don’t like spinach.
Answer: A
4. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?
A. I like that really big red old antique tractor in the museum.
B. I like that really big old red antique tractor in the museum.
C. I like that old, red, really big antique tractor in the museum.
Answer: B
5. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?
A. My brother rode a beautiful big black Friesian horse in the parade.
B. My brother rode a beautiful Friesian big black horse in the parade.
C. My brother rode a big, black, beautiful Friesian horse in the parade.
Answer: A
6. For each of the following sentences, choose the correct order of adjectives to fill in the blank.
A. My grandmother lives in the ________________________ house on the corner
o little blue, green and white
o little blue and green and white
o little, blue, green, and white
B. The store carries an assortment of _____________________ objects.
o interesting new, old and antique
o new, old, interesting and antique
o interesting, old and new and antique
C. We went for a two-week cruise on a __________________________ ocean liner.
o incredible brand-new, huge Italian
o incredible, huge, brand-new Italian
o Italian incredible, brand-new, huge
Answers: A – little blue, green and white B – interesting new, old and antique C – incredible,
huge, brand-new Italian
7. For each of the following sentences, choose the correct order of adjectives to fill in the blank.
A. I bought a pair of _________________ boots.
o new, nice, red rain
o nice new red rain
o red nice new rain
B. My dad was thrilled with his gift of ______________________ bowties for his clown act.
o three squirting new nice big polka-dotted
o three polka-dotted nice new squirting
o three nice big new polka-dotted squirting
C. Please put the marbles into that ______________________ box.
o round little old red
o little old round red
o little old red round
Answers: A-nice new red rain B- three nice big new polka-dotted squirting C – little old round
red
8. For each of the following sentences, choose the correct order of adjectives to fill in the blank:
A. I was surprised to receive a __________________ puppy for my birthday.
o little, cute, eight-week-old golden retriever
o cute eight-week-old little golden retriever
o cute little eight-week-old golden retriever
B. Our work uniform consists of black pants, black shoes, and a ________________ shirt.
o yellow baggy big polo
o big baggy yellow polo
o baggy yellow big polo
C. I’ve been spending a lot of time in antique shops looking for the perfect _______________
clock.
o little silver Italian cuckoo
o little Italian silver cuckoo
o silver little Italian cuckoo
Answers: A – cute little eight-week-old golden retriever B – big baggy yellow polo C – little
silver Italian cuckoo
9. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?
A. Our grandparents drive a motorhome with black and white stripes.
B. Our grandparents drive a motorhome with black with white stripes.
C. Our grandparents drive a motorhome with black, white stripes.
Answer: A
10. Which sentence uses the correct order of adjectives?
A. During my college years, I wore a red, white and black big hat to sporting events.
B. During my college years, I wore a big red, white and black hat to sporting events.
C. During my college years, I wore a big red white and black, hat to sporting events.
Answer: B
