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Dtwx Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Order of adjectives
This is probably a dumb question, but...
Consider these two sentences:
Dave has a fancy red car.
Dave has a red fancy car.
Most people would use the first sentence, but both mean the same thing. However, it sounds a lot better when fancy is used first.
But now consider those two:
Dave has a big fancy car.
Dave has a fancy big car.
They mean the same thing, but the sentence sounds "better" when fancy is used last. Aside from determing whether a sentene sounds better, are there any formal guidelines for choosing the order of adjectives?
A related question: is there a rule for when to use commas between adjectives?
For example:
Dave has a fancy red car.
Bob has an environment-unfriendly, fuel-guzzling SUV.
The comma is appropriate for the second sentence, but would seem weird for the first one.
Consider these two sentences:
Dave has a fancy red car.
Dave has a red fancy car.
Most people would use the first sentence, but both mean the same thing. However, it sounds a lot better when fancy is used first.
But now consider those two:
Dave has a big fancy car.
Dave has a fancy big car.
They mean the same thing, but the sentence sounds "better" when fancy is used last. Aside from determing whether a sentene sounds better, are there any formal guidelines for choosing the order of adjectives?
A related question: is there a rule for when to use commas between adjectives?
For example:
Dave has a fancy red car.
Bob has an environment-unfriendly, fuel-guzzling SUV.
The comma is appropriate for the second sentence, but would seem weird for the first one.
Top answer
the order of adjectives in most grammars: determiner + opinion + size + age + shape + color + origin + material + purpose + NOUN The above was offered on these forums some time ago. It should be noted that it is a description of what happens rather than a prescription to what should happen. To answer your question, native speakers just seem to have a "feel" for it and could not in 100 years offer you a reason.
- the order of adjectives in most grammars: determiner + opinion + size + age + shape + color + origin + material + purpose + NOUN The above was offered on these forums some time ago.
- It should be noted that it is a description of what happens rather than a prescription to what should happen.
- To answer your question, native speakers just seem to have a "feel" for it and could not in 100 years offer you a reason.
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2 Answers
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the order of adjectives in most grammars: determiner + opinion + size + age + shape + color + origin + material + purpose + NOUN
The above was offered on these forums some time ago. It should be noted that it is a description of what happens rather than a prescription to what should happen. To answer your question, native speakers just seem to have a "feel" for it a
The above was offered on these forums some time ago. It should be noted that it is a description of what happens rather than a prescription to what should happen. To answer your question, native speakers just seem to have a "feel" for it a
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