How to Use Adjectives
An adjective describes how something 'is'. For this reason, we usually use the verb 'to be' when using adjectives. Adjectives are used to describe nouns.
Example: He is a good doctor. Rule: Adjectives describe nouns. The adjective is always invariable.
Example: beautiful trees, they are happy
Be careful!
* Adjectives don't have a singular and plural form OR a masculine, femine and neuter form.
* Adjectives are always the same! Never add a final -s to an adjective.
* Adjectives can also be placed at the end of a sentence if they describe the subject of a sentence. Example: My doctor is excellent.
NOT!!: difficults books
Rule: Adjectives are placed before the noun.
Example: a wonderful book very interesting people
Be careful!
* Don't place an adjective after the noun
NOT!!: an apple red
Adjective Placement
When using more than one adjective to describe a noun place the adjectives in the following order before the noun.
NOTE: We usually use no more than three adjectives preceding a noun.
1. Opinion
Example: an interesting book, a boring lecture
2. Dimension
Example: a big apple, a thin wallet
3. Age
Example: a new car, a modern building, an ancient ruin
4. Shape
Example: a square box, an oval mask, a round ball
5. Color
Example: a pink hat, a blue book, a black coat
6. Origin
Example: some Italian shoes, a Canadian town, an American car
7. Material
Example: a wooden box, a woolen sweater, a plastic toy
Here are some examples of nouns modified with three adjectives in the correct order based on the list above. Notice that the adjectives are not separated by commas.
* A wonderful old Italian clock. (opinion - age - origin)
* A big square blue box. (dimension - shape - color)
* A disgusting pink plastic ornament. (opinion - color - material)
* Some slim new French trousers. (dimension - age - origin)
An adjective describes how something 'is'. For this reason, we usually use the verb 'to be' when using adjectives. Adjectives are used to describe nouns.
Example: He is a good doctor. Rule: Adjectives describe nouns. The adjective is always invariable.
Example: beautiful trees, they are happy
Be careful!
* Adjectives don't have a singular and plural form OR a masculine, femine and neuter form.
* Adjectives are always the same! Never add a final -s to an adjective.
* Adjectives can also be placed at the end of a sentence if they describe the subject of a sentence. Example: My doctor is excellent.
NOT!!: difficults books
Rule: Adjectives are placed before the noun.
Example: a wonderful book very interesting people
Be careful!
* Don't place an adjective after the noun
NOT!!: an apple red
Adjective Placement
When using more than one adjective to describe a noun place the adjectives in the following order before the noun.
NOTE: We usually use no more than three adjectives preceding a noun.
1. Opinion
Example: an interesting book, a boring lecture
2. Dimension
Example: a big apple, a thin wallet
3. Age
Example: a new car, a modern building, an ancient ruin
4. Shape
Example: a square box, an oval mask, a round ball
5. Color
Example: a pink hat, a blue book, a black coat
6. Origin
Example: some Italian shoes, a Canadian town, an American car
7. Material
Example: a wooden box, a woolen sweater, a plastic toy
Here are some examples of nouns modified with three adjectives in the correct order based on the list above. Notice that the adjectives are not separated by commas.
* A wonderful old Italian clock. (opinion - age - origin)
* A big square blue box. (dimension - shape - color)
* A disgusting pink plastic ornament. (opinion - color - material)
* Some slim new French trousers. (dimension - age - origin)