ADJECTIVES IN ENGLISH - WORD ORDER with examples

Summary

In this lesson, Arnel teaches the rules of adjective word order in English, focusing on the sequence of opinion, size, shape, color, origin, and other descriptors. He explains how adjectives modify nouns, providing examples of proper adjective placement, along with practical tips for remembering the correct order. The lesson also covers coordinate versus cumulative adjectives and when to use commas. Through tests and examples, learners are encouraged to practice adjective usage and refine their understanding of this important grammatical concept.

Takeaways

• 😀 Adjectives describe nouns, making sentences more interesting and specific. Example: Big dog, hot coffee.
• 😀 Adjective word order in English typically follows the pattern: Opinion, Size, Physical Observation, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose (OSPASCOMP).
• 😀 Opinion adjectives reflect personal feelings, such as 'good,' 'bad,' or 'ugly,' and always come before descriptive adjectives.
• 😀 Descriptive adjectives include size, color, and material, and usually follow the opinion adjective in the sentence.
• 😀 Commas are needed between coordinate adjectives (when adjectives are of equal value), like 'funny, entertaining,' but not between cumulative adjectives (when they follow OSPASCOMP).
• 😀 Age and shape adjectives describe a noun’s age or shape, and should follow specific order rules. Age adjectives, for example, must stay singular in hyphenated forms (e.g., 'two-day-old').
• 😀 For clarity, adjective order is important: 'American Green Card' is correct, not 'Green American Card,' because 'Green' is part of the noun.
• 😀 You can practice adjective word order with example sentences, like 'stylish, pocket-sized, blue reading glasses.'
• 😀 Coordinate adjectives can be rearranged or linked with 'and.' For example, 'entertaining and funny speech' or 'dark and stormy night' is fine.
• 😀 Test your understanding by determining whether commas are necessary in sentences based on the adjective relationship—coordinate or cumulative.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this lesson?

The main focus of this lesson is understanding the correct order of adjectives in English. It covers both the grammatical rules and how to use adjectives effectively when describing nouns.

Why is 'smooth black stones' correct but 'black smooth stones' is not?

'Smooth black stones' follows the proper adjective word order: opinion adjectives (smooth) come before descriptive adjectives (black). The reversed order does not sound natural in English, as adjectives need to follow a specific sequence.

What is the basic rule for adjective word order?

The basic rule for adjective word order is Opinion, Size, Physical Observation, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, and Purpose (OSPASCOMP). This sequence should be followed when multiple adjectives are used to describe a noun.

What are opinion adjectives and why do they come first?

Opinion adjectives reflect personal views and feelings, such as 'good,' 'bad,' 'easy,' or 'ugly.' They come first in the adjective order because they are subjective and based on the speaker's perspective.

Can you explain the difference between cumulative and coordinate adjectives?

Cumulative adjectives follow the adjective word order and do not require commas, while coordinate adjectives describe the same noun in equal value and should be separated by commas. For example, 'a dark, stormy night' uses commas because both adjectives equally describe the night.

Why does the 'green card' in 'American green card' not follow the typical adjective order?

In the case of 'green card,' 'green' is part of the noun phrase and not a simple descriptive adjective. Therefore, 'American green card' follows a different pattern, where 'green' is fixed as part of the noun rather than following the typical adjective order.

What role do commas play in sentences with adjectives?

Commas are used in sentences with coordinate adjectives, where the adjectives have equal value and can be rearranged or connected with 'and.' However, no commas are needed for cumulative adjectives, which follow a set order like 'size,' 'color,' and 'material.'

Can you provide an example of using the 'OSPASCOMP' order correctly?

An example would be: 'I bought a lovely small round red Italian wooden table.' In this case, 'lovely' is an opinion adjective, 'small' is a size adjective, 'round' is a shape adjective, 'red' is a color adjective, 'Italian' is an origin adjective, and 'wooden' is a material adjective.

How do you know when to use commas with multiple adjectives?

Commas should be used when the adjectives are coordinate, meaning they can be rearranged or connected with 'and' without changing the meaning. For example, 'a funny and entertaining speech' or 'a dark and stormy night.' If the adjectives follow the OSPASCOMP order, no commas are needed.

What is the significance of hyphenated adjectives like 'two-day-old' or 'five-minute-old'?

Hyphenated adjectives like 'two-day-old' or 'five-minute-old' are used to describe specific time periods or age. These hyphenated forms remain singular, and the hyphen connects the words to create a unified adjective phrase. They are essential for clarity and specificity.