Order of Adjectives Exercise 1
B1–B2 · IntermediateWhen 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.
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Choose the response that sounds more natural.
1. He's a ________ doctor.
Correct answer: charming young
2. I plan on wearing my ________ coat.
Correct answer: long black
3. This is a ________ painting from the 18th century.
Correct answer: well-known French
4. She was wearing a ________ dress.
Correct answer: beautiful green
5. The ________ bird! I'm going to help it!
Correct answer: poor little
6. She prepared a ________ dinner for us.
Correct answer: wonderful Mexican
7. Nagoya is an example of a ________ city.
Correct answer: modern Japanese
8. He bought himself a ________ truck.
Correct answer: big new
9. Pass me the ________ bowl.
Correct answer: round plastic
10. The ________ years were fantastic.
Correct answer: first two
11. Hans is a ________ architect.
Correct answer: successful German
12. The sculpture has an ________ shape.
Correct answer: interesting square
13. She only wears ________ clothes.
Correct answer: expensive designer
14. The ________ sweater is very warm.
Correct answer: Italian wool
15. It's close to the ________ building.
Correct answer: big blue
16. They are ________ band.
Correct answer: a popular American
17. He wore his ________ hat to the party.
Correct answer: big black
18. This is ________ development!
Correct answer: an exciting new
19. She sold the ________ chairs at a yard sale.
Correct answer: old wooden
20. He called me ________ man!
Correct answer: a fat old
Next exercise: Adjective Order – Exercise 2 →
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 → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose + Noun
a beautiful (opinion) big (size) old (age) round (shape) black (color) 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 color: a small red car (not red small car)
Age before color: an old gray building
Color 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 → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose + Noun
a beautiful (opinion) big (size) old (age) round (shape) black (color) 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 color: a small red car (not red small car)
Age before color: an old gray building
Color before origin: a blue Italian jacket
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