Mastering the Order of Adjectives ✍️
In English, we don't place adjectives randomly! When you use three or more adjectives before a noun, they must follow a specific, predictable sequence. Let's learn the rule!
The Rule: OSASCOMP (Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color...)
The most common and important categories for ordering adjectives are listed below. You generally move from subjective (what you think) to objective (what is physically true).
| Category | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Opinion | What you think of it (subjective judgment). | beautiful, nice, great, terrible, happy, kind, lovely |
| 2. Size | How big it is. | large, small, big, tall, short, little, long |
| 3. Age | How old it is. | old, new, modern, young |
| 4. Shape/Physical | Physical state, texture, or shape. | curly, straight, clean, dirty, messy |
| 5. Color | What color it is. | pink, brown, blond, black, blue, white, red, yellow |
Correct Example: A beautiful (Opinion), large (Size), old (Age) house.
Exercise A: Identifying the Order (10 Questions)
Read the sentences below. Decide if the adjectives are in the **Correct** or **Incorrect** standard order.
1. She bought a nice, young, energetic puppy.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
2. We saw a colorful, terrible, happy painting.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
3. They found a new, excellent, big house.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
4. He drove a black, modern, small car.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
5. I met a talkative, intelligent, shy teacher.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
6. She wore a yellow, little, lovely dress.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
7. This is a great, big, brown dog.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
8. They lived in a comfortable, large, old home.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
9. We saw a brave, short, blond man.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
10. I bought an excellent, small, new gadget.
Correct OrderIncorrect Order
Exercise B: Reorder the Adjectives (10 Questions)
Drag the adjective tiles from the bank into the empty slots in the correct order for each sentence.
1. We rented a
2. My neighbor has a
3. I saw a
4. They bought a
5. We adopted a
6. It was a
7. I found a
8. They hired an
9. He owns a
10. That is an