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Adjective Order in English – English Grammar Lesson

Oxford Online English

513K views 10 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you describe something with many adjectives, do you think word order matters? Why/why not?
What adjectives would you use to describe your favorite drink or food?
What is the most confusing part of English grammar for you: word order, verb tenses, or articles?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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Adjective Order in English – English Grammar Lesson

Why adjective order matters + Rule 1 (opinions before facts) (00:00 – 03:28)

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1. Which adjective order does the speaker say is the only correct one for the coffee example?

Italian strong black coffee
Black Italian strong coffee
Strong black Italian coffee
Strong Italian black coffee

2. What is the speaker’s main reason for learning adjective order?

Otherwise people will not understand your meaning at all.
It is required for formal writing only.
Mistakes are very noticeable and can sound unnatural.
Native speakers never make mistakes with adjective order.

3. According to Rule 1, which type of adjective should come first?

Opinions before facts
Facts before opinions
Nationality before color
Material before size

Adjective Order in English – English Grammar Lesson

Rule 2 (general before specific) + examples (03:28 – 05:20)

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1. In the example 'a long wooden table', why does 'long' come before 'wooden'?

'Long' is more general, and 'wooden' is more specific.
'Long' is an opinion, and 'wooden' is a fact.
Nationality adjectives must be next to the noun.
'Wooden' must always be last in English.

2. Which adjective does the speaker give as an example of a more specific idea?

Small
Old
Hot
Striped

3. Which sentence is one of the speaker’s examples for this rule?

She has an interesting new perspective on the economic situation.
He works for a small Canadian company.
Strong black Italian coffee.
They live in a beautiful old house on the edge of the city.

Adjective Order in English – English Grammar Lesson

The full rule + practical advice and review (05:20 – 08:01)

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1. Which list matches the speaker’s 'full rule' categories (in order)?

Size, opinion, age, color, material, nationality
Opinion, size, other qualities, age, color or pattern, nationality, material
Opinion, nationality, material, size, age, color or pattern
Material, color, age, size, opinion, nationality

2. Why does the speaker say you don’t really need to know the full rule?

Because dictionaries decide the order each time.
Because it’s too complicated and people rarely use many adjectives together.
Because adjective order never matters in English.
Because the rule is only for American English.

3. Which example does the speaker say sounds strange/wrong?

a new leather sofa
a small Canadian company
a really warm woolly hat
black, straight, short hair

Adjective Order in English – English Grammar Lesson

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1. Which pair of 'basic rules' does the speaker recommend remembering for everyday speaking?

Material before nationality; color before size
General before specific; opinion before fact
Opinion before size; nationality before age
Age before size; pattern before color

2. What does the speaker say is usually true if your adjective order is wrong?

Your meaning is still clear, but it sounds noticeable/unnatural.
Native speakers always follow the full rule perfectly.
It is only a problem in writing, not speaking.
People will not understand what noun you mean.

3. How many adjectives does the speaker say we usually use before a noun?

As many as possible for clarity
Five or six, very often
One, never more
Two or three (usually), more is rare

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Adjective Order in English – English Grammar Lesson

Do you agree that adjective order mistakes are very noticeable? Why or why not?
Describe an object you own using 2–3 adjectives. Then try changing the order—how does it sound?
Which rule is easier for you to use: 'opinion before fact' or 'general before specific'? Explain.
Do you think it’s useful to memorize the full adjective-order list, or is it better to learn by exposure? Why?