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ADJECTIVE ORDER

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"little brown house"
or
"brown little house"
the-royal-order-of-adjectives.jpg

When a number of adjectives are used together, the order depends on the function of the adjective.

 

The usual order is:

  1. Observation — adjectives subject to subjective measure (e.g., beautiful, interesting)

  2. Size and Shape — adjectives subject to objective measure (e.g., wealthy, large, round)

  3. Age — adjectives denoting age (e.g., young, old, new, ancient)

  4. Color — adjectives denoting color (e.g., red, black, pale)

  5. Origin — adjectives denoting source of noun (e.g., French, American, Canadian)

  6. Material — adjectives denoting what something is made of (e.g., woolen, metallic, wooden)

  7. Qualifier — final limiter, often regarded as part of the noun (e.g., rocking chair, hunting cabin, passenger car, book cover)

What if the adjectives belong to the same group?

When adjectives belong to the same class, they become coordinated adjectives, and you will put a comma between them.

 

For example: the inexpensive, comfortable shoes

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The rule for inserting the comma works this way:

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1) If you could have inserted a conjunction — and/but — between the two adjectives, use a comma.

    For example: 'the inexpensive but comfortable shoes'    become   'the inexpensive, comfortable shoes'

 

2) When you have three coordinated adjectives, separate them all with commas

    For example: a popular, respected, and good looking student

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