The Order of Adjectives Before a Noun

Sometimes we use more than one adjective in front of a noun:

He’s a fat old man. (not old fat)
She’s an attractive, French businesswoman.
Martin’s got an old, yellow bike.

colour blind – daltónico

We usually have one or two adjectives before a noun. Three is unusual:

This is a boring, expensive, thick English text book.

Adjectives usually (but not always) come in this order:

1. Opinion
2. Size
3. Age
4. Shape
5. Colour
6. Origin (nationality)
7. Material

(OSASHCORM)
Other Qualities could include, for example, thin (Thickness), light (Weight), warm (Clothes), etc.

A warm leather jacket.
A beautiful warm day.

bulky – voluminoso/a

A heavy, bulky Swiss suitcase
Numbers come first:

One lovely German woman.
six large eggs.
half a dozen free-range eggs.
My second big chance
Use commas when there’s more than one adjective: A wonderful, long, relaxing holiday. (but sometimes commas are not used with short, common adjectives: lovely blue eyes, a tall dark stranger.)
Occasionally, adjectives come AFTER nouns. for example in fixed expressions like ‘president elect’, ‘secretary general’, ‘God Almighty!’

All things/Everything/Anything/Anywhere etc

All things culinary excite me; Anything Greek interests Mike.

Some adjectives CAN’T come before a noun. They come after the verb. (Predicative)

The boy is asleep/afraid/awake/alone/alike/alright. (NOT “the asleep/alone/etc. boy”)

Most begin with letter “a______”

Practice

house (modern, attractive)
dog (black, huge)
day (lovely, sunny)
nose (red, large)
face (round, friendly)
phone (expensive, Japanese)
car (new, sports, red)
boots (leather, black, sexy)
table (modern, glass, ugly)

Discussion

Describe the following (using no more than 2 adjectives):

your flat
the clothes you’re wearing
one another! Martin/Craig/Reza
Valencia
the room we’re in
our favourite possession
your last holiday
your first girlfriend/boyfriend
your wife/husband/current partner (if different to above!!)
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