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Cracking the code: how to use adjectives in the right order!

Master the art of ordering adjectives with this simple guide! Learn the correct sequence to make your sentences shine.

Ever get stuck trying to figure out the right order of adjectives in English?

Like, do you say,

“big blue car” or “blue big car?”

It can be tricky, but I’ve got your back! Let’s break it down in a super simple way that’ll make you a pro in no time!

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Why does the order matter?

In English, adjectives (you know, those words that describe things) usually go in a specific order.

Mixing them up might sound a bit funny to native speakers, like saying “blue big car” instead of “big blue car.”

But don’t worry! There’s a little formula to help you remember.

Let’s call it the QOSSACOMP rule! (Sounds fancy, right? 😄)

Meet the QOSSACOMP rule!

It’s quite a simple rule. Here’s how it works:

  • Quantity (e.g., "two," "many")

  • Opinion (e.g., "beautiful," "ugly")

  • Size (e.g., "big," "small")

  • Shape (e.g., "round," "square")

  • Age (e.g., "new," "old")

  • Color (e.g., "red," "blue")

  • Origin (e.g., "Italian," "American")

  • Material (e.g., "wooden," "metal")

  • Purpose (e.g., "sleeping" in "sleeping bag")

You just follow the order of these letters, and voilà! You’ll have a perfect adjective combo every time!

Let’s put them all together!

The image shows how all the 9 adjectives should be used in sentences following the correct order.

Let’s try another example:

Imagine you have two beautiful old Italian wooden chairs. Using the correct order of adjectives, here's how we would arrange them:

  • Quantity: Two

  • Opinion: Beautiful

  • Age: Old

  • Origin: Italian

  • Material: Wooden

So, it’s:

Two beautiful old Italian wooden chairs.

Easy, right?

Practice makes perfect!

The best way to remember this is to practice. Try making up your own sentences or looking around and describing things you see.

A cute small round red ball

An amazing big modern house

Three tasty fresh French baguettes

Quick tip: Don’t stress too much!

Native speakers sometimes bend the rules, and it’s totally okay! If you mix up your adjectives, most people will still understand you.

But if you want to sound super smooth, using the OSASCOMP order will help you out!

That’s it! A little rule to keep your adjectives in check and your English sounding awesome. 🎉

Check out the full scoop on ESL Advice if you want more examples and tips.

Got any questions or funny stories about mixing up adjectives? Share them in the comments! Let’s have some fun with this! 😊

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