Order of Adjectives Exercise 2
B1–B2 · IntermediateMore practice putting adjectives in the order English speakers normally use.
Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓
Choose the adjective order that sounds more natural.
1. She's wearing a ________ sweater.
Correct answer: new gray — opinion/age before color — new (age/opinion) comes before gray (color).
2. She bought some ________ peppers.
Correct answer: fresh red — quality before color — fresh (quality/opinion) comes before red (color).
3. He introduced us to a ________ writer.
Correct answer: young Canadian — age before origin — young (age) comes before Canadian (origin).
4. Brendan was eating with a ________ spoon.
Correct answer: round plastic — shape before material — round (shape) comes before plastic (material).
5. Our office is in the ________ building.
Correct answer: big blue — size before color — big (size) comes before blue (color).
6. I decided to buy the ________ socks.
Correct answer: stylish pink — opinion before color — stylish (opinion) comes before pink (color).
7. Her boyfriend is a ________ man.
Correct answer: tall American — size before origin — tall (size) comes before American (origin).
8. We were admiring the ________ airplanes.
Correct answer: big new — size before age — big (size) comes before new (age).
9. Mary was sitting next to the ________ flowers.
Correct answer: small yellow — size before color — small (size) comes before yellow (color).
10. We've lived in Madrid for the ________ years.
Correct answer: past two — determiner order — past functions as a pre-determiner meaning the last.
Finished both? Try sentence word order →, or review Adjective Order – Exercise 1.
Grammar review
Adjective order — reminder and edge cases
The standard order: Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose
Age before color: age adjectives like new and old come before color adjectives.
Shape before material: shape adjectives precede material adjectives.
Size before color: size adjectives come before color adjectives.
Color before origin: color adjectives precede nationality/origin adjectives.
Special case — determiners:
Words like past, last, next, first act as determiners and always come before descriptive adjectives, regardless of the standard sequence.
the last three days / the next important meeting
Tip: When unsure, say both orders aloud. Native speakers will almost always prefer one — that instinctive preference follows the rule.
The standard order: Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose
Age before color: age adjectives like new and old come before color adjectives.
Shape before material: shape adjectives precede material adjectives.
Size before color: size adjectives come before color adjectives.
Color before origin: color adjectives precede nationality/origin adjectives.
Special case — determiners:
Words like past, last, next, first act as determiners and always come before descriptive adjectives, regardless of the standard sequence.
the last three days / the next important meeting
Tip: When unsure, say both orders aloud. Native speakers will almost always prefer one — that instinctive preference follows the rule.
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