The Order of Adjectives

When we use more than one adjective to describe a noun, we normally have to follow a specific order. Remember the order as NOSASCOMP or DOSASCOMP, Number-Opinion-Size-Age-Shape-Color-Origin-Material-Purpose or Determiner-Opinion-Size-Age-Shape-Color-Origin-Material-Purpose.

1. Number or Determiner: Articles and other limiters (e.g., a, your, the, five, her).

2. Opinion: Describes what is thought about the noun (e.g., pretty, expensive, delicious).

3. Size: Describes how big or small the noun is (e.g., small, big, tiny, enormous).

4. Age: Describes how young or old the noun is (e.g., young, old, ancient, new).

5. Shape: Describes what shape the noun is (e.g., round, square, flat).

6. Color: Describes what color the noun is (e.g., blue, pinkish, green).

7. Material: Describes what the noun is made of (e.g., wood, cotton, silver, metal).

8. Origin: Describes where the noun is from (e.g., American, eastern, lunar).

9. Purpose: Describes what the noun is used for or what it does (e.g., racing [as in racing car], sleeping [as in sleeping bag]).

from. Scribendi

Please watch the two videos below to learn more.

Test your knowledge of the order of adjectives with a quiz below!

[qsm quiz=6]

Share this:

2 thoughts on “The Order of Adjectives

  1. Hello there!

    Thank you for your hard work on putting this information together!

    Please check the explanation since material category is written before origin and it is the other way around.

    7. Origin
    8. Material

    Thank you!

Leave a Reply to BethanyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.