Page 1 of 2 www.englishpractice.com – Learn and practice English online. Adjective Order Before Nouns When several adjectives are used to modify a noun, they need to be put in a particular order. For example, we say a fat old woman, and not an old fat woman. Similarly we say, a large shiny brown leather bag, and not a leather large shiny brown bag. There are no comprehensive rules for adjective order. The few rules we have are complicated and different grammars disagree about the details. Nevertheless, some of the most important rules are explained here. Adjectives of color, origin, material and purpose usually go in that order. A blue German leather bag A brown Spanish glass mug An Arabian glass flower vase Adjectives of size, length and height usually go before words of color, origin, material and purpose. A round glass table (NOT a glass round table) A tall ancient oak tree (NOT an ancient tall oak tree) Adjectives which express judgments and attitudes usually go before all other adjectives. Examples are: lovely, nice, wonderful, surprising, silly, foolish etc. A silly fat woman Numbers usually go before other adjectives. Eight large stones The third big shock Note that the ordinal adjectives first, second, third etc., usually go before the cardinal adjectives one, two, three etc. The first two chapters My last two jobs Note that when more than two adjectives come before a noun, we generally use commas to separate them especially if the adjectives are long. www.englishpractice.com – Learn and practice English online. Page 2 of 2 An expensive, ill-planned, wasteful project Note that commas are usually dropped before short adjectives. A tall fair beautiful girl A tall dark handsome fellow . Page 1 of 2 www.englishpractice.com – Learn and practice English online. Adjective Order Before Nouns When several adjectives are used to modify a noun, they need to be put in a particular. judgments and attitudes usually go before all other adjectives. Examples are: lovely, nice, wonderful, surprising, silly, foolish etc. A silly fat woman Numbers usually go before other adjectives. Eight. second, third etc., usually go before the cardinal adjectives one, two, three etc. The first two chapters My last two jobs Note that when more than two adjectives come before a noun, we generally