The Correct Order of Adjectives in English
A beautiful large round antique Chinese wooden table.
Native English speakers instinctively know this order sounds right, while A wooden Chinese antique round large beautiful table sounds decidedly wrong—yet few could explain why. This invisible pattern reveals one of English's most fascinating yet rarely taught rules.
The Hidden Pattern in English Descriptions
English follows specific sequencing rules for multiple adjectives that native speakers follow unconsciously.
When using multiple adjectives to describe something, English requires them to appear in a specific order. Though native speakers rarely think about this rule explicitly, they follow it naturally. Non-native speakers often find their descriptions sounding "off" without understanding why.
The standard order of adjectives in English follows this sequence:
- Opinion – subjective assessment (beautiful, horrible, delicious)
- Measurement – size, weight, length (tiny, enormous, heavy)
- Shape – physical form (round, square, triangular)
- Condition – state or quality (broken, perfect, wet)
- Age – temporal description (new, ancient, three-year-old)
- Color – hue (blue, crimson, pale yellow)
- Pattern – design (striped, polka-dotted, floral)
- Origin – source or nationality (French, urban, tropical)
- Material – composition (wooden, plastic, cotton)
- Purpose – function or use (cooking, sleeping, running)
This Order in Action
Seeing examples helps solidify understanding of this complex but natural pattern.
Let's examine some natural-sounding examples:
- She wore a gorgeous (opinion) little (size) black (color) Italian (origin) leather (material) dancing (purpose) shoes.
- They bought an expensive (opinion) large (size) rectangular (shape) antique (age) oak (material) dining (purpose) table.
- He drove a sleek (opinion) tiny (size) new (age) silver (color) Japanese (origin) sports car.
When to Use Commas Between Adjectives
The relationship between adjectives determines whether commas are needed.
Not all sequences of adjectives require commas. The rules for comma usage depend on the relationship between the adjectives.
Coordinate Adjectives
These adjectives modify the noun independently and equally.
Coordinate adjectives can be separated by commas or the word "and" without changing the meaning. They can also be reordered without affecting the meaning.
- A bright, cheerful room (Both adjectives independently describe the room)
- A cheerful, bright room (Order can be switched)
- A bright and cheerful room (Can add "and" between them)
Cumulative Adjectives
These adjectives build upon each other and work as a unit with the noun.
Cumulative adjectives cannot be separated by commas or "and," and they cannot be reordered without changing the meaning or creating an unnatural sentence.
- Several small rectangular boxes (No comma between "several" and "small")
- The famous old French castle (No comma between "famous" and "old")
The Comma Test
Two simple tests determine whether commas should be used.
To determine if adjectives need commas:
The "And" Test
If you can insert "and" between the adjectives without changing the meaning, use a comma.
A tall, slender woman → A tall and slender woman (Sounds natural, so use a comma)
The Reordering Test
If you can reorder the adjectives without affecting the meaning, use a comma.
A difficult, complex problem → A complex, difficult problem (Works, so use a comma)
Examples of Complete Adjective Sequences
While rare in everyday speech, these examples illustrate the complete pattern.
Though we rarely use more than two or three adjectives in a row, here are some examples of longer sequences:
- A charming (opinion) tiny (size) oval (shape) broken (condition) ancient (age) bronze (material) decorative (purpose) bowl
- Those hideous (opinion) massive (size) square (shape) new (age) purple (color) checkered (pattern) woolen (material) winter (purpose) blankets
Exceptions to the Rule
Like all English rules, adjective order has its exceptions.
Some exceptions to standard adjective order include:
1. Emphasized adjectives may be placed out of order for effect:
- The cold, dark, endless night (Emphasis changes standard order)
2. Fixed expressions maintain their traditional order:
- The Big Bad Wolf (Not "The Bad Big Wolf")
- The good old days (Not "The old good days")
3. Proper noun adjectives often appear in different positions:
- The Gothic grand cathedral (Style comes before size)