Adjective Order

We often have two adjectives in front of a noun:

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

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


He's a good · wonderful · brilliant · bad · dreadful teacher.

That's a good · wonderful · brilliant · bad · dreadful book.

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.

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:

annoyed
bored
finished
pleased
thrilled

We say:

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.

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:


We say:

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. ✖