Adjective Order

Determiners Adjectives more subjective more objective less permanent more permanent opinion a the some my this Notes

Nouns

size big small large enormous tiny

age young old new ancient modern

shape round square flat curved

colour red black coloured greenish opaque

nationality material / origin French Beninese western foreign local metal plastic cotton paper

noun used as adjective spider camping school government man car site buildings departments

stupid beautiful difficult wonderful terrible

In spoken English it is rare to have more than 2 adjectives in front of a noun In written English it is rare to have more than 3 adjectives in front of a noun !he order given above is not absolute It depends on the context

"tart with the noun and ask the question# $%hat sort of &$ E'amples# ( man %hat sort of man& ( )hinese man %hat sort of )hinese man& ( young )hinese man %hat sort of young )hinese man& ( wonderful young )hinese man %hat sort of buildings& %hat sort of government buildings& %hat sort of black government buildings& Buildings *overnment buildings Black government buildings (ncient black government buidings

*lenys +anson, )entre de linguistique appliqu-e, .niversit- de Franche/)omt- 0112