Order of Adjectives Exercise 1
|level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
When more than one adjective modifies a noun in English, they follow a specific sequence. Native speakers apply this order instinctively — getting it wrong doesn't usually cause confusion, but it sounds noticeably unnatural. This is exercise 1 of 2; both exercises test the same underlying rule with different adjective pairs.
Grammar review
Order of adjectives in English
When more than one adjective appears before a noun, English speakers follow a consistent sequence:
Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin → Material → Purpose + Noun
a beautiful (opinion) big (size) old (age) round (shape) black (colour) Italian (origin) marble (material) table
In practice, two or three adjectives before a noun is the most common. The most important pairings:
Opinion before size: a lovely big garden (not big lovely garden)
Size before colour: a small red car (not red small car)
Age before colour: an old grey building
Colour before origin: a blue Italian jacket
When more than one adjective appears before a noun, English speakers follow a consistent sequence:
Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin → Material → Purpose + Noun
a beautiful (opinion) big (size) old (age) round (shape) black (colour) Italian (origin) marble (material) table
In practice, two or three adjectives before a noun is the most common. The most important pairings:
Opinion before size: a lovely big garden (not big lovely garden)
Size before colour: a small red car (not red small car)
Age before colour: an old grey building
Colour before origin: a blue Italian jacket
Choose the adjective combination that sounds most natural in English.
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CHECK OUT OUR OTHER RELATED EXERCISES:
Adjective Order 1 (B1/B2)
Adjective Order 2 (B1/B2)
Participle Adjectives 1 (B1/B2)
Participle Adjectives 2 (B1/B2)
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Adjective Order 1 (B1/B2)
Adjective Order 2 (B1/B2)
Participle Adjectives 1 (B1/B2)
Participle Adjectives 2 (B1/B2)
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