Adjective Order in Sentences

When using multiple adjectives to describe a noun, they follow a specific order in English. Although native speakers apply this order instinctively, it can be challenging for learners. The general order is as follows:

  1. Determiner (a, an, the, my, her)
  2. Opinion (lovely, beautiful, awful)
  3. Size (small, big, large)
  4. Age (old, new, young)
  5. Shape (round, square, rectangular)
  6. Color (red, blue, green)
  7. Origin (Italian, French, Chinese)
  8. Material (wooden, metal, cotton)
  9. Purpose/Qualifier (sleeping, cooking)

Examples:

  1. A beautiful old Italian painting (Determiner, Opinion, Age, Origin, Noun)
  2. The large round blue table (Determiner, Size, Shape, Color, Noun)
  3. My small red sports car (Determiner, Size, Color, Purpose, Noun)

Adjective Order Example in a Sentence:

  • She bought a lovely small blue cotton dress.
    (Determiner, Opinion, Size, Color, Material, Noun)