WHICH ADJECTIVE COMES FIRST?

June 8, 2026

Red balloon floating over green fields, winding river, and blue sky with clouds

Order of Adjectives

When we use more than one adjective before a noun, we must put them in a specific order. For example, we say “the big red balloon.” We do not say “the red big balloon” because size always comes before color.

Here is the natural order we use:

Determiner: (a, an, the, this, that, his, her, some)
Opinion: (beautiful, expensive, delicious, nice)
Size: (big, small, huge, tiny)
Age: (old, young, new, ancient)
Shape: (round, square, tall, flat)
Color: (brown, white, red, blue)
Origin: (American, Chinese, Japanese, Italian)
Material: (wooden, cotton, plastic, gold)
Purpose / Qualifier: (sleeping bag, rocking chair, wedding ring)

Grammar Tip: We usually do not put commas between adjectives when they belong to different categories.

Examples:

We bought a beautiful round wooden table. (beautiful = opinion, round = shape, wooden = material)
She has a cute small old black cat. (cute = opinion, small = size, old = age, black = color)

Although this is the rule we usually follow, there are occasional exceptions, and some adjectives can belong to more than one category depending on the context.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Don’t Just Drop It: How to Seamlessly Integrate Quotes in Your Essays
The passage explains the importance of avoiding drop quotes in academic writing, which can confuse readers by abruptly presenting quotes without context. It suggests using the "Quote Sandwich" method, which includes an introduction, the quote, and an explanation of its relevance. This technique enhances clarity and coherence in essays.
Finding Your Rhythm: The Secret to a Consistent Writing Voice
Maintaining a consistent writing voice is crucial for effective communication. A writer's voice, shaped by vocabulary and sentence structure, should remain steady throughout a piece to build trust with readers. Strategies like establishing a clear persona, monitoring vocabulary and tone, and matching sentence structure can help achieve this consistency.
Why Knowing Your Audience Changes Everything
Effective essay writing goes beyond mere knowledge display; it involves understanding and tailoring your content to your audience. Audience awareness shapes your tone, vocabulary, and evidence selection, impacting persuasion. By anticipating readers' biases and expectations, and addressing counterarguments, you enhance your writing's credibility and engage your audience in meaningful dialogue.
The Weakest Link: How to Spot and Fix Comma Splices
The text explains comma splices, which occur when two complete sentences are joined by only a comma. It emphasizes the importance of correct punctuation and offers three solutions: using a period to separate sentences, adding a conjunction, or replacing the comma with a semicolon. Proofreading for comma usage is encouraged.
The Rule You Can’t Ignore: Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear English communication. This rule states that singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. It’s essential to watch for common traps, like intervening words, singular terms that sound plural, and subjects connected by "and," which require plural verbs. Ensure your writing matches accordingly.