10 Adjective Order: A Guide to Correctly Describing Nouns
When describing nouns in English, using adjectives in the correct order can be a bit tricky. However, following the 10 adjective order rule can help you express yourself more accurately and effectively. In this article, we'll explore the 10 adjective order and provide examples to illustrate each point.
What is the 10 Adjective Order?
The 10 adjective order is a set of guidelines that helps you arrange adjectives in a specific sequence to describe a noun. The order is as follows:
- Opinion (e.g. wonderful, beautiful)
- Size (e.g. big, small)
- Age (e.g. old, young)
- Shape (e.g. round, square)
- Color (e.g. red, blue)
- Proper adjective (e.g. Chinese, American)
- Material (e.g. wooden, metal)
- Purpose (e.g. sleeping, cooking)
- Origin (e.g. Italian, Mexican)
- Descriptor (e.g. happy, tall)
Examples of the 10 Adjective Order
Let's take a look at some examples to illustrate each point:
- Opinion: "That wonderful new restaurant is amazing." (Here, "wonderful" is an opinion about the restaurant.)
- Size: "I need a big umbrella to keep me dry." (Here, "big" describes the size of the umbrella.)
- Age: "The old car needs to be repaired." (Here, "old" describes the age of the car.)
- Shape: "The round clock on the wall is antique." (Here, "round" describes the shape of the clock.)
- Color: "The red apple looks juicy." (Here, "red" describes the color of the apple.)
- Proper adjective: "I love Chinese food." (Here, "Chinese" is a proper adjective describing the origin of the food.)
- Material: "The wooden table is sturdy." (Here, "wooden" describes the material of the table.)
- Purpose: "I need a sleeping bag for the camping trip." (Here, "sleeping" describes the purpose of the bag.)
- Origin: "I love Italian pasta." (Here, "Italian" describes the origin of the pasta.)
- Descriptor: "She's a happy person." (Here, "happy" is a descriptor of her personality.)
By following the 10 adjective order, you can create more accurate and effective descriptions in your writing and speech. Remember, the key is to use the adjectives in the correct sequence to convey your intended meaning.
