Types and Order of Adjectives
There are times when multiple adjectives are needed to describe or modify the same noun.
For example, there is the "sky". "Sky" is a noun. Sometimes in a sentence, more adjectives are needed to describe the sky.
SKY
There are a few possible colors of the sky. It could be blue, dark, or white
There can also be a few possible conditions of the sky. It could be dull, clear, sparkly (at night), or empty
Lastly, there are common opinions about the sky. It could be beautiful, lovely, calming, etc.
Now, the sentence should not sound awkward when describing the sky, especially when using multiple adjectives. For it to sound natural, there is an "order of adjectives" needed to be followed according to types.
Check the sequence below.
1. Opinion (good, bad, strange, lovely, etc.)
2. Measurement (big, small, tiny, huge, etc.)
3. Shape (curved, straight, round, square, etc.)
4. Condition (wet, dry, clean, sad, happy, etc.)
5. Age (old, young, new, ancient, etc.)
6. Color (red, yellowish, transparent, blue, etc.)
7. Pattern (checked, striped, plaid, flowered, etc.)
8. Origin (American, British, eastern, western, etc.)
9. Material (wooden, plastic, steel, cloth, etc.)
10. Purpose (sleeping, shopping, work, gardening, etc.)
Earlier, adjectives that can be used to describe the sky according to types were brainstormed. Below shows that they are numbered according to the sequence given above.
6. Colors: blue, dark, white
4. Conditions: dull, clear, sparkly (at night), empty
1. Opinions: beautiful, lovely, calming, etc.
So the sequence from first to last is: 1, 4, 6
For example, one adjective is picked from each type. This will depend on the situation, or on the noun that needs to be described and how the speaker wants to describe it. For now, it will be assumed as it is; the speaker wants to use three adjectives: blue (color), clear (condition), and lovely (opinion).
For better comprehension, these will be put on a table.
This sequence will be followed in putting these adjectives in a sentence.
example:
"I see a lovely clear blue sky."
or
"A lovely clear blue sky is what I see."
or
"The sky is lovely, clear, and blue."
Commas and/or coordinating conjunctions are not used in the first two sentences contrary to the third one.
It needs to be noted that in some instances, adjectives are separated with commas and/or coordinating conjunctions.
So when are commas and/or coordinating conjunctions used?
for Attributive Adjectives
1. A comma and/or coordinating conjunction are used if two or more adjectives fall under the same type.
In this case, they are called Coordinate Adjectives. For example, hair. "hair" is a noun, and there are many adjectives that can be used to describe hair. But there are commonly used ones: heavy and long--these two adjectives fall under the same type of adjective--measurement. Since they have the same type, either a comma or one of the seven coordinating conjunctions can be used between the two adjectives. For example, "and". And if there are three or more adjectives under the same type, both the comma and coordinating conjunction are used. Look at the examples below:
examples:
"I have heavy, long hair."
"I have heavy and long hair."
"I have heavy, long, and wide hair."
A comma is used for the first sentence, the conjunction "and" in the second sentence, while both are used in the third one.
2. Neither a comma nor coordinating conjunction is used if the two or more adjectives do not fall under the same type.
Just like the sentences,
"I see a lovely clear blue sky."
or
"A lovely clear blue sky is what I see."
This is only for Attributive adjectives. Attributive adjectives are adjectives that appear directly before the noun/pronoun they describe or directly after the indefinite pronoun they describe without linking verbs in between. As can be seen in the examples above. No linking verbs in between.
for Predicative Adjectives
1. A comma and coordinating conjunction are used if it is a series of three or more Predicative Adjectives regardless of the type.
Just to give a recap, Predicative adjectives are adjectives that appear after the noun or pronoun they describe connected by linking verbs like "is, are, was, were, etc.", just like the third example sentence given earlier.
"The sky is lovely, clear, and blue."
These adjectives are categorized as Predicative because they appear after the noun they describe which is the sky with a linking verb "is" in between. Since they are predicative adjectives, both commas and a coordinating conjunction are used because they are three.
2. Only coordinating conjunction is used if there are just two of them regardless of the type.
examples:
"The sky is lovely and clear."
"The sky is dark but calming."
SUMMARY OF THE RULES
Attributive Adjectives
1. A comma and/or coordinating conjunction are used if the adjectives fall under the same type:
a comma in between if there are only two attributive adjectives under the same type,
coordinating conjunction in between if there are only two attributive adjectives under the same type, or both if there are three or more.
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