How to Remember Adjective Order
Adjectives are an essential part of the English language, and they play a crucial role in describing and modifying nouns. However, many learners struggle with the correct order of adjectives in a sentence. This article aims to provide you with practical tips and strategies on how to remember adjective order in English.
Firstly, it is important to understand that the order of adjectives in English follows a specific pattern. The general rule is as follows: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose, and then quality or description. By memorizing this sequence, you can easily arrange your adjectives in the correct order.
Opinion
Opinion adjectives express the speaker’s feelings or attitudes towards the noun. For example, “a wonderful new book” uses “wonderful” as an opinion adjective.
Size
Size adjectives describe the size of the noun. They come next in the order, such as “a large red apple.”
Age
Age adjectives indicate the age of the noun. For example, “a young, old, and middle-aged man” follows the age order.
Shape
Shape adjectives describe the shape of the noun, such as “a round, flat, and tall table.”
Color
Color adjectives come next in the sequence, like “a bright blue sky.”
Origin
Origin adjectives indicate where the noun comes from, such as “a Japanese silk kimono.”
Material
Material adjectives describe the material of the noun, such as “a wooden chair.”
Purpose
Purpose adjectives explain the purpose of the noun, like “a sleeping bag for camping.”
Quality or Description
Finally, quality or description adjectives come last in the order, such as “a delicious, warm cup of coffee.”
To remember this order, you can use mnemonic devices or create a catchy phrase that includes each type of adjective. For example, “Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose, Quality, and Description” can be remembered as “Oh, Sir, Can You Jump, Please? I Like That Quality.”
In addition to using mnemonic devices, practicing with example sentences can also help you remember the adjective order. Try to rearrange the adjectives in a sentence and observe how the meaning changes when you change the order.
Lastly, be aware that there are exceptions to the general rule, especially when dealing with multiple adjectives of the same type. In such cases, follow the order of importance or the most common usage.
By following these tips and strategies, you can effectively remember the order of adjectives in English. With practice and patience, you will soon be able to use adjectives correctly and confidently in your writing and speaking.
