Adjective Order

We often have two adjectives in front of a noun:

a handsome young man
a big black car
that horrible big dog

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Some adjectives give a general opinion. We can use these adjectives to describe almost any noun:


He's a brilliant teacher.
That's a wonderful book.

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Some adjectives give a specific opinion. We only use these adjectives to describe particular kinds of noun, for example:


We usually put a general opinion in front of a specific opinion:

nice tasty soup.
a nasty uncomfortable armchair.
a lovely intelligent animal.

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We usually put an opinion adjective in front of a descriptive adjective:

a nice red dress.
a silly old man.
those horrible yellow curtains.

We use some adjectives only after a link verb:


Some of the commonest -ed adjectives are normally used only after a link verb:


Our teacher was ill. ✓
We had an ill teacher. ✗

My uncle was very glad when he heard the news. ✓
When he heard the news he was a very glad uncle. ✗

The policeman seemed to be very annoyed. ✓
He seemed to be a very annoyed policeman. ✗

Sometimes we have three adjectives in front of a noun, but this is unusual:

A nice handsome young man.
A big black American car.
That horrible big fierce dog.

It is very unusual to have more than three adjectives.

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Adjectives usually come in this order:

1. General opinion
2. Specific opinion
3. Size
4. Shape
5. Age
6. Colour
7. Nationality
8. Material

A few adjectives are used only in front of a noun:


He lives in the eastern district. ✓
The district he lives in is eastern. ✗

There were countless problems with the new machinery. ✓
The problems with the new machinery were countless. ✗

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