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Iasadih Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

order of adjectives describing a noun

I have heard that there is an order in which adjectives should appear, depending on the quality they describe.
for example:
a big old Chinese clock

what is this grammar law called?

is this order arbitrary or natural (somehow)?
  

Top answer

" The rule goes something like this: articles first (a, the); next, adjectives of size or shape; next, adjectives of age or texture; next, adjectives or origin or style; etc. This is demonstrated in your example. You can't go wrong following this rule, but in certain situations the rule is broken, for the sake of emphasis, style, euphony, rhythm, etc.

— An0nymous

  • " The rule goes something like this: articles first (a, the); next, adjectives of size or shape; next, adjectives of age or texture; next, adjectives or origin or style; etc.
  • This is demonstrated in your example.
  • You can't go wrong following this rule, but in certain situations the rule is broken, for the sake of emphasis, style, euphony, rhythm, etc.
  • For example, if the age of the clock is its most important feature, then it might be said as: an old, big, Chinese clock.
  • Or, if its origin is most important, followed by its age, then you might say: a Chinese, old, big clock.
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10 Answers
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This is a standard grammatical rule that can be found in any English grammar book, under "order of adjectives." The rule goes something like this: articles first (a, the); next, adjectives of size or shape; next, adjectives of age or texture; next, adjectives or origin or style; etc. This is demonstrated in your example.

You can't go wrong following this rule, but in certain situation
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iasadihI have heard that there is an order in which adjectives should appear,
Yes. It does not have a particular name, though. Here is a reference:
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/order-adjecti
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I wonder how this rule was created, what makes it legitimate.

One possibility is that the order is agreed by linguists arbitrarily. Another would be melodic - certain order simply sounds/feels better. Still another, this is how mind orders features. What branch of linguistics studies links between linguistic rules and cognition?

PS. a valuable link, thank you!!
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It is not a rule, it is an observation. Native speakers instinctively put adjectives in a certain order. The question why is a fascinating one that will only be answered when we completely understand pretty much everything.
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enoonThe question why is a fascinating one that will only be answered when we completely understand pretty much everything.
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iasadihOne possibility is that the order is agreed by linguists arbitrarily.
Not really. I put adjectives in a particular order because that is how my mom and dad spoke to me. My friends spoke the same way, too. And my parents spoke that way because that is the way their moms and dads and friends spoke to them.
Everyone in our social circles agreed natura
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AlpheccaStarsThe surprising thing is that we never consulted or even knew any linguists.
You did the right thing. My family never consulted them either, thank goodness. We just didn't believe in that sort of thing.

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You Native Speakers seem to take this phenomenon as naturally as the Eskimoes distinguish the tones of white Emotion: big smile

From my p
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iasadihFrom my perspective, it is really puzzling to see such a rule. It is like no other in adding no semantic distinction
I suppose there is no semantic distinction, but semantics does play a role.

We generally put the adjectives which describe the more inherent qualities of the noun closer to the noun and those which are purely accidental or tempor
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This post does seem to clarify it all. Thank you.
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