Imagine you really want to buy a dog, so you go to a pet store.
This pet store has hundreds of different dogs. How are you going to describe what kind of dog you want?
You can say, "I want to buy a dog," but this doesn't describe the kind of dog you want. This is where we can use adjectives to describe the dog (noun).
Think of all the adjectives to describe the dog you want to buy. Would the dog be big or small? old or young? shy or outgoing? white or brown?
Let's pretend you want a white dog that is big in size, how do you say this?
You can say, "I want to buy a dog," but this doesn't describe the kind of dog you want. This is where we can use adjectives to describe the dog (noun).
Think of all the adjectives to describe the dog you want to buy. Would the dog be big or small? old or young? shy or outgoing? white or brown?
Let's pretend you want a white dog that is big in size, how do you say this?
When you use more than one adjective, you have to put them in the right order or it will sound very strange. Do you say, "I want a big white dog" or "I want a white big dog?"
The first one is correct. Why? Look at the chart below.
If "big" is size and "white" is color, then it should come first because size is number (2) and color is number (5) . You can use this for all orders of adjectives. Once you keep practicing, the order will become more and more familiar to you. A quick and easy way is to always place the adjective that is easy to change first. Number 1 (Opinion) can be changed more easily than number 6 (Origin: where something is from). It is easy for me to change my opinion of someone, but it is not easy for me to change where they come from. Therefore, place the opinion adjective first.
When you have time, think about all your close friends and family members, what adjectives would you use to describe them? Think of three adjectives for each person and put them in order.
For example: My best friend is a beautiful slender American woman.
The first one is correct. Why? Look at the chart below.
If "big" is size and "white" is color, then it should come first because size is number (2) and color is number (5) . You can use this for all orders of adjectives. Once you keep practicing, the order will become more and more familiar to you. A quick and easy way is to always place the adjective that is easy to change first. Number 1 (Opinion) can be changed more easily than number 6 (Origin: where something is from). It is easy for me to change my opinion of someone, but it is not easy for me to change where they come from. Therefore, place the opinion adjective first.
When you have time, think about all your close friends and family members, what adjectives would you use to describe them? Think of three adjectives for each person and put them in order.
For example: My best friend is a beautiful slender American woman.
Test yourself!
Put the adjectives in the correct order:
(1) Joe is a (American / young / tall) basketball star.
(2) I want to buy a (funny / red) mug for my brother for Christmas.
(3) My mother just bought a (blue / long / beautiful) dress for herself.
(4) All my students are (smart / young / British) girls.
(5)All I want for Christmas is a pair of (black / vintage / Italian / leather) boots.
(6) My teacher always gives (boring / long) lectures.
(1) Joe is a tall young American basketball star.
(2) I want to buy a funny red mug for my brother for Christmas.
(3) My mother just bought a beautiful long blue dress for herself.
(4) All my students are smart young British girls.
(5) All I want for Christmas is a pair of vintage black Italian leather boots.
(6) My teacher always gives long boring lectures.
Put the adjectives in the correct order:
(1) Joe is a (American / young / tall) basketball star.
(2) I want to buy a (funny / red) mug for my brother for Christmas.
(3) My mother just bought a (blue / long / beautiful) dress for herself.
(4) All my students are (smart / young / British) girls.
(5)All I want for Christmas is a pair of (black / vintage / Italian / leather) boots.
(6) My teacher always gives (boring / long) lectures.
(1) Joe is a tall young American basketball star.
(2) I want to buy a funny red mug for my brother for Christmas.
(3) My mother just bought a beautiful long blue dress for herself.
(4) All my students are smart young British girls.
(5) All I want for Christmas is a pair of vintage black Italian leather boots.
(6) My teacher always gives long boring lectures.
RSS Feed
