Function of Adjectives

Function of Adjectives

Adjectives can:

Describe feelings or qualities:

Examples

He is a lonely man
They are honest people

Give nationality or origin:

Examples

Pierre is French
This clock is German
Our house is Victorian

Tell more about a thing's characteristics:

Examples

A wooden table.
The knife is sharp.

Tell us about age:

Examples

He's young man
My coat is very old

Tell us about size and measurement:

Examples

John tall man.
This is a very long film.

Tell us about colour:

Examples

Paul wore a red shirt.
The sunset was crimson and gold.

Tell us about material/what something is made of:

Examples

It was a wooden table
She wore a cotton dress

Tell us about shape:

Examples

A rectangular box
A square envelope

Express a judgement or a value:

Examples

A fantastic film
Grammar is boring.

RULES

Where a number of adjectives are used together, the order depends on the function of the adjective. The usual order is:

Value/opinion, Size, Age/Temperature, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material

Value/opinion:delicious, lovely, charming
Size:small, huge, tiny
Age/Temperature:old, hot, young
Shape:round, square, rectangular
Colour:red, blonde, black
Origin:Swedish, Victorian, Chinese
Material:plastic, wooden, silver

Examples:

a lovely old red post-box
some small round plastic tables
some charming small silver ornaments

I hope that you understand the lesson