Adjective Order in Noun Phrases

Think of a noun like a person. Adjectives are the clothes they wear. Some clothes always go on first. Others go on right at the end. In English, we put opinions first. We put hard, physical facts last. Facts are closer to the noun itself. Opinions are farther away from it. If you see a beautiful green plant, that is normal. Your opinion is that it is beautiful. The fact is that it is green. The greenness is part of the plant. Your opinion might change, but the color stays. This creates a logical flow for the listener. It is like a zoom lens on a camera. We start far away with our feelings. We zoom in on the specific details. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! But once you see the pattern, you cannot unsee it.

1. 1There is a famous list to remember. Teachers call it OSASCOMP. It sounds like a weird space station. But it is actually your best friend. Here is the royal order of adjectives:
2. 2Opinion: Your personal feeling about the thing. Example: wonderful, bad, strange, or cool.
3. 3Size: How much space it takes up. Example: little, giant, long, or short.
4. 4Age: How many years it has existed. Example: young, modern, old, or new.
5. 5Shape: The physical form it has. Example: round, triangular, wavy, or square.
6. 6Color: The hue you see with your eyes. Example: yellow, dark blue, or purple.
7. 7Origin: Where the object was created. Example: American, local, lunar, or earthly.
8. 8Material: What the object is made of. Example: metal, cotton, glass, or wood.
9. 9Purpose: What the object is used for. Example: cleaning liquid or sewing machine.
10. 10Follow this list from top to bottom. You will never make a mistake again. Think of it like a queue at the bank. No cutting in line allowed!

Use this when you describe anything. Imagine you are at a fancy restaurant. You want to order a small Italian salad. If you say Italian small salad, the waiter might blink. It sounds like a puzzle to them. Use it when you describe your friends. "She is a kind young woman." Use it when you buy things online. You want a sturdy black metal desk. It helps the seller understand you perfectly. It is essential for giving clear directions too. "Look for the big yellow wooden house." Use it in job interviews to sound precise. "I am a creative young professional." It works in almost every real-world scenario.

Do not use too many adjectives! This is the most important rule. English speakers usually use only two. Sometimes they might use three adjectives. Four adjectives in a row is very rare. Five adjectives sounds like a tongue twister. If you use eight, people will probably laugh. "He has a lovely tiny old round black French wooden box." That sentence is technically correct grammar. However, it sounds absolutely crazy in real life. Keep it simple and focus on the important details. Think of it like salt on food. A little bit makes it better. Too much salt ruins the whole meal. If you have too many facts, use multiple sentences instead.

The biggest mistake is the "Opinion-Fact Swap." Many learners put the color first. They say the red beautiful car. Native speakers will understand, but it sounds itchy. It feels like wearing socks over your shoes. Always put the beautiful opinion first. Then put the red fact second. Another mistake is using and too much. You do not need and between most adjectives. A big and red bus is wrong. Just say a big red bus. Only use and for two colors. A black and white cat is perfect. Also, watch out for the Origin category. People often forget to put Size before it. A French large bread is ✗. A large French bread is ✓.

This is different from using "be" verbs. If you say the car is big and red, you need and. When the adjectives come after the noun, use and. But when they are before the noun, follow OSASCOMP. Also, don't confuse nouns acting as adjectives. In the coffee cup, coffee is a noun. It acts like a "purpose" or "material" category. It stays closest to the main noun, cup. Wait, did I mention commas? Usually, we do not use commas here. If the adjectives are from different categories, no commas. A big red bus (No comma). If they are from the same category, use commas. A long, boring, expensive movie (Commas!). It is a subtle difference that makes you look like a pro.