GV

Adjective Order

The correct order for multiple adjectives: opinion-size-age-shape-color-origin-material-purpose

intermediate

When to Use Adjective Order

  • •When using multiple adjectives before a noun.
  • •Order: Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose.
  • •Example: a beautiful small old round red Italian wooden dining table.
  • •Usually 2-3 adjectives max in natural speech.
  • •Commas between adjectives of the same type; no comma between different types.

How to Form Adjective Order

Affirmative (+)

Adjectives in OSASCOMP order + noun

Negative (-)

Same order in negative sentences

Question (?)

Same order in questions

💡 OSASCOMP: Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose. Numbers come before all adjectives.

Examples of Adjective Order

✓a lovely little old cottage

✗a little lovely old cottage

Opinion (lovely) before size (little) before age (old).

✓a big red American car

✗a red big American car

Size (big) before color (red) before origin (American).

✓an expensive antique silver necklace

✗a silver antique expensive necklace

Opinion → age → material.

Common Mistakes with Adjective Order

💡 Practice Tips for Adjective Order

  • • Remember OSASCOMP: Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose.
  • • Numbers come first: three beautiful red roses.
  • • Use 2-3 adjectives max for natural speech.
  • • Commas only between adjectives of the same category.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.Which sentence has the correct adjective order? 
  2. 2.Which is the correct order for these adjectives describing a painting? 
  3. 3.Choose the correctly ordered phrase. 
  4. Question 4: Reorder: ball / red / big → a blank ball.
    4.Reorder: ball / red / big → a ball.
  5. Question 5: Reorder: car / American / big / red → a blank car.
    5.Reorder: car / American / big / red → a car.
  6. Question 6: Reorder: cottage / old / lovely / little → a blank cottage.
    6.Reorder: cottage / old / lovely / little → a cottage.
  7. Question 7: Reorder: necklace / silver / antique / expensive → an blank necklace.
    7.Reorder: necklace / silver / antique / expensive → an necklace.
  8. Question 8: Fill the blank with the adjectives in correct order — table / dining / Italian / wooden / round / red / old / small / beautiful → a blank table.
    8.Fill the blank with the adjectives in correct order — table / dining / Italian / wooden / round / red / old / small / beautiful → a table.
  9. 9.Which phrase uses commas correctly? 
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