Adjective order

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Royal Order of Adjectives

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to correctly order English adjectives in a sentence according to the Royal Order of Adjectives.

Why?

“Every Sunday, my grandma makes an Italian big meal,” said no one ever.

Why? It’s technically correct—it’s a big meal, it’s Italian food, and your grandma makes it. But it doesn’t sound quite right, and that’s because the adjective order in that sentence isn’t correct.

Royal Order of Adjectives

(Take notes!)

Adjectives have a specific order in English, known as the Royal Order of Adjectives. 

The order is: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose.
(osascomp)

Example

Example of the Royal Order of Adjectives in action:

 A beautiful (opinion) big (size) round (shape) red (color) Italian (origin) wooden (material) table.

(Use notes)
A beautiful brown French leather handbag.

Beautiful is ?

1. Number
2. Opinion
3. Size
4. Shape

A beautiful brown French leather handbag.

Brown is ?

1. Number
2. Opinion
3. Color
4. Place of origin

A beautiful brown French leather handbag.

Which two adjectives are 'missing' between opinion and color?

1. number and size
2. size and age
3. age and shape
4. shape and material

A beautiful brown French leather handbag.

Add the words 'large' and 'old' to this sentence in the correct place. Type the entire sentence.

Put in the correct order.
new, blue, small, Chinese, silk, pretty.

Put in the correct order.

Two - silk - purple - lovely - Italian - small - wavy - scarves.

Tips when working with Royal order of adjectives.

Write down the correct order. Use different colors for the words. 

OSASCOMP

Before putting words in the correct order, first determine what kind of adjective each word is. Use your notes. 

More info?

Have a look at p. 281 in your book. Grammar 18.

Or use the link in classroom. 

Exercises

Mission 9, training session 1

Exercise 5, p. 158-159 (or work online).

Finished? Continue with the rest of Mission 9. 

Homework for tomorrow:

Bring your literature portfolio.