Adjective Order In English, it is common to use more than one adjective before a noun - for example, "He's a silly

young fool," or "she's a smart, energetic woman." When you use more than one adjective, you have to put them in the right order, according to type. This page will explain the different types of adjectives and the correct order for them. An opinion adjective explains what you think about something (other people may not agree with you). Examples: silly, beautiful, horrible, difficult A size adjective, of course, tells you how big or small something is. Examples: large, tiny, enormous, little An age adjective tells you how young or old something or someone is. Examples: ancient, new, young, old A shape adjective describes the shape of something. Examples: square, round, flat, rectangular A colour adjective, of course, describes the colour of something. Examples: blue, pink, reddish, grey

Opinion

Size

Age

Shape

Colour

Origin

An origin adjective describes where something comes from. Examples: French, lunar, American, eastern, Greek A material adjective describes what something is made from. Examples: wooden, metal, cotton, paper A purpose adjective describes what something is used for. These adjectives often end with "-ing". Examples: sleeping (as in "sleeping bag"), roasting (as in "roasting tin")

Material

Purpose

Some examples of adjective order

a a a Opinion Size Age Shape silly young huge round small Colour Origin Material English metal red Purpose man bowl bag

sleeping

Preposition with Adjective Examples - use, rules & test exercise

1. List of common adjectives and the prepositions that normally follow them accustomed to aware of doubtful about fond of opposed to related to similar to afraid of capable of enthusiastic about guilty of pleased with rich in suitable for answerable to dependent on excited about interested in popular with satisfied with suspicious of attached to different to famous for keen on proud of serious about used to (= accustomed to)

2. Some adjectives can be followed by either of two or more prepositions annoyed about something The Ministry was annoyed about criticism in the paper annoyed with someone They were. annoyed with us for charging them good/bad at something I'm very bad at mathematics. good/bad for something The expected cut in interest will be good for industry. good/bad with something She should be in Marketing. She's very good with customers. responsible to someone The Export Manager is responsible to the Sales Director. responsible for something He is responsible for preparing handouts. sorry about something I am sorry about the job. It's a shame you didn't get it. sorry for doing something He said he was sorry for keeping me waiting. (feel) sorry for someone I feel very sorry for Peter. He has been fired. 3. These combinations of adjectives with prepositions may be followed by noun or noun phrase. The students were very excited about the results of the experiment. 4. When followed by a verb, the -ing form must be used. Please let me know whether you would be interested in arranging a meeting. Exercise Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition or adjective. 1. If you are serious ________going ahead with this, let's have a meeting. 2. The Mini-TV is very popular _____________our younger customers. 3. The new Pilot notebook is similar ____________ the previous model, but it has some interesting new features. 4. The Finance Director said he was strongly opposed ________awarding everyone a tax refund. 5. South Africa is rich _________natural resources like diamonds and gold. 6. I have to travel by car or boat because I am afraid ______flying. 7. He has very little experience. I don't think he would be capable _______ running such a large project. 8. I would be very interested ___________discussing the idea of a joint venture. 9. I am very proud _________my younger sister. 10. We are pleased __________the results. 11. I'm not sure if he is aware _________all the facts. 12. I am answerable ________my supervisor at work.

13. There was a photograph attached _________ the e-mail. 14. We are enthusiastic ________learning English. Fill in with few, fewer, the fewest, a few, less, the least. The exhibition was not very crowded. There were ______ people than I expected. Meeting Bill Clinton was much ______ frightening than I had imagined. I've not met him but I've heard ______ stories about him and he sounds interesting. He's ______ crazy than you first think. Some of his ideas make sense. That must be ______ frightening horror film I've ever seen. It's time somebody told him ______ home truths. I strongly disapprove. I don't like what I've heard in ______ . He's not liked. In fact he's ______ liked person in the office. I'd like to go to Japan but I get so ______ opportunities to travel in my present job. I'd like you to spend ______ time on your own work and more on controlling your staff. David Letterman is very famous in America but ______ people in England have heard of him. We mustn't postpone this meeting. We get to meet on too ______ occasions as it is. Frankly, John's problems are ______ of my worries. If you spent ______ time worrying, you'd get more done. I don't like any of the solutions. I suppose John's is ______ bad of them but I still don't like it. It's not important. It doesn't matter in ______ . The winner will be the person who makes ______ mistakes. I've had ______ problems with this. I really need some help. I've had ______ problems with this. I don't need any help. "Never was so much owed by so many to so ______ ." - Winston Churchill 1. Which is the correct order? A. a small Canadian thin lady B. a Canadian small thin lady C. a small thin Canadian lady D. a thin small Canadian lady 2. Which is the correct order? A. a carving steel new knife B. a new steel carving knife C. a steel new carving knife D. a new carving steel knife 3. Which is the correct order? A. a beautiful blue sailing boat B. a blue beautiful sailing boat C. a sailing beautiful blue boat D. a blue sailing beautiful boat 4. Which is the correct order? A. an old wooden square table B. a square wooden old table C. an old square wooden table

D. a wooden old square table 5. Which is the correct order? A. an new French exciting band B. a French new exciting band C. an exciting French new band D. an exciting new French band 6. Which is the correct order? A. a red big plastic hat B. a big red plastic hat C. a plastic big red hat D. a big plastic red hat 7. Which is the correct order? A. a small Japanese serving bowl B. a Japanese small serving bowl C. a small serving Japanese bowl D. a serving small Japanese bowl 8. Which is the correct order? A. a cotton dirty old tie B. a dirty cotton old tie C. an old cotton dirty tie D. a dirty old cotton tie Describing people: Character I Intellectual ability Ability: intelligent, bright, clever, smart, shrewd, able, gifted, talented, brainy. Lacking ability: stupid, foolish, half-witted, simple, silly, brainless, daft, dumb. Attitudes towards life Looking on either the bright or the black side of the things: optimistic, pessimistic. Outward looking or inward looking: extroverted, introverted. Calm or not calm with regard to attitude to life: relaxed, tense. Practical, not dreamy in approach to life: sensible, down-to-earth. Feeling things very intensely: sensitive. Attitudes towards other people Enjoying others' company: sociable, gregarious. Disagreeing with others: quarrelsome, argumentative. Taking pleasure in others' pain: cruel, sadistic. Relaxed in attitude to self and others: easy-going, even-tempered. Not polite to others: impolite, rude, ill-mannered, and discourteous. Telling the truth to others: honest, trustworthy, reliable, and sincere. Unhappy if others have what one does not have oneself: jealous, envious. Skin/Face/Complexion (Complexion is the natural appearance and color of the skin, especially of the face; e.g. Mary has a soft, creamy complexion. Freckled: sprinkled or covered with light brown spots Rosy: pink-cheeked; fair complexion that glows with a hint of pink Ruddy: skin that has a healthy reddish tint; may have the appearance of sunburn Tanned: skin with a healthy golden-brown tint Wrinkled: full of or covered with lines or loose folds of skin; often associated with age Other skin-related adjectives: pale, spotless, silky, smooth, creamy, baby-soft, glowing, paper-thin or translucent (as with a very old person); rough, callused, dry Eyes piercing, mesmerizing, sad, sorrowful, tear-filled, gentle, sympathetic, warm, compassionate, expressive, twinkling, lively, dancing, laughing

Eye Shape and Size Large, small, almond-shaped, round, slanted, crinkly (wrinkled) Mouth/Lips Thin lips, full lips, pouting lips, pursed lips (puckered up, like when someone is concentrating) Hair Texture/Appearance wavy, curly, straight, spiky, stiff, buzzed, shaved, parted, neatly-combed, tamed, long, short, cropped Hair Styles braids, ponytail, pigtails, bun (=coc), twist, bob, ringlets, flip, bangs (=breton), buzz Hair colors black, brunette, brown, chestnut-brown, honey-blond, blond, golden-blond, ash-blond, auburn, red, strawberry-blond, gray, silver, white, salt-and-pepper A buzz cut can still have enough length to it in order to have the ability to brush it forward as in this

picture:

ringlets

fringe (bangs)

flip

twist

pigtail