Adjective order

If you are using more than one adjective before a noun, there is often a specific order in which
they must be placed.
For example:
A black leather jacket
A leather black jacket
ere is a short acronym to help you remember: OSASCOMP. !elow you will find an
explanation for each letter and some example sentences.
"ule #: O$A$%&'( ) O for opinion
Adjectives that talk about opinions, judgements or attitudes usually come first.
Opinions, judgements or attitudes Noun
an elegant table.
a perfect plate.
an expensive skate.
"ule *: &SA$%&'( ) S for size
Adjectives relating to si+e, length and height come next. For example:
Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Noun
an elegant large table.
a perfect big plate.
an expensive small skate.
"ule ,: &$A$%&'( ) A for age
-ext are any adjectives relating to age
Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Noun
an elegant large new table.
a perfect big old plate.
an expensive small modern skate.
"ule ./: &$AS%&'( ) S for size
Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Noun
an elegant large new s0uare table.
a perfect big old round plate.
an expensive small modern oval skate.
"ule .1: &$A$C&'( ) C for colour
-ext are the adjectives that talk about colour.
Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Colour Noun
an elegant large new s0uare black table.
a perfect big old round white plate.
an expensive small modern oval red skate.
"ule .2: &$A$%O'( ) O for origin
3his refers to adjectives that say where the noun is from.

Judgements, opinions or
attitudes
Size, length,
height
Age Shape Colour Origin Noun
an elegant large new s0uare black
$wedis
h
table.
a perfect big old round white %hinese plate.
an expensive small modern oval red Italian skate.
"ule .4: &$A$%&M( ) M for material
3his refers to what the noun is made of.

Judgements, opinions
or attitudes
Size, length,
height
Age Shape Colour Origin Material Noun
an elegant large new s0uare black
$wedis
h
wooden table.
a perfect big old round white %hinese porcelain plate.
an expensive small modern oval red Italian aluminium skate.
"ule .5: &$A$%&'P ) P for purpose
3his refers to what the noun is used for 6e.g. wedding ring7. 3hey are often nouns used as
adjectives.

Judgements,
opinions or
attitudes
Size,
length,
height
Age Shape Colour Origin Material Purpose Noun
an elegant large new s0uare black
$wedis
h
wooden dining table.
a perfect big old round white %hinese porcelain dinner plate.
an expensive small modern oval red Italian aluminium sports skate.
Important notes:
#. 3he adjectives used in the tables above are examples only. It is uncommon in 8nglish to
use more than three adjectives in the same sentence to describe a noun.
*. $ome adjectives can be found in different positions, but if you follow the OSASCOMP
rule you won9t be wrong: