Adjectives are an essential part of speech in English, adding detail and depth to our sentences by describing or modifying nouns and pronouns. Understanding the correct placement of adjectives within a sentence is crucial for clear and effective communication. In this article, we will explore various rules and patterns that govern the position of adjectives in English sentences, providing comprehensive explanations and examples to ensure you can confidently use adjectives in your writing and speech.
Basic Adjective Placement
The most common position for an adjective is directly before the noun it modifies. This is known as the attributive position. For example:
– She wore a beautiful dress.
– He has a red car.
– They live in a big house.
In each of these sentences, the adjectives (beautiful, red, big) appear immediately before the nouns (dress, car, house) they describe.
Predicative Position
Adjectives can also appear in the predicative position, which means they come after a linking verb such as “be,” “seem,” “become,” “feel,” “look,” etc. In this case, the adjective is part of the predicate and describes the subject of the sentence. For example:
– The dress is beautiful.
– The car looks red.
– The house seems big.
Here, the adjectives (beautiful, red, big) follow the linking verbs (is, looks, seems) and describe the subjects (dress, car, house).
Order of Multiple Adjectives
When multiple adjectives are used to describe a single noun, they follow a specific order. While native speakers often follow this order instinctively, it can be helpful to learn the general rules. The typical order of adjectives is as follows:
1. Opinion
2. Size
3. Age
4. Shape
5. Color
6. Origin
7. Material
8. Purpose
For example:
– She bought a beautiful (opinion) small (size) new (age) round (shape) red (color) Italian (origin) leather (material) handbag (purpose).
It’s rare to see a noun with so many adjectives, but understanding the order helps when you do need to use multiple adjectives. In practice, we usually use two or three adjectives together:
– He has a big (size) old (age) wooden (material) table.
Coordinate and Cumulative Adjectives
When using multiple adjectives, it’s important to distinguish between coordinate and cumulative adjectives.
Coordinate Adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that independently modify a noun and can be separated by a comma or the word “and.” They can also be reordered without changing the meaning of the sentence. For example:
– She has a bright, cheerful smile. (Or: She has a cheerful, bright smile.)
– It was a long and tiring journey. (Or: It was a tiring and long journey.)
To test if adjectives are coordinate, try inserting “and” between them or changing their order. If the sentence still makes sense, they are coordinate adjectives.
Cumulative Adjectives
Cumulative adjectives build upon each other and do not require commas. Their order cannot be changed without altering the meaning of the sentence. For example:
– He drove a big red truck. (Not: He drove a red big truck.)
– She wore a lovely silk scarf. (Not: She wore a silk lovely scarf.)
In these examples, the adjectives (big, red; lovely, silk) work together to provide a specific description and must follow the established order.
Adjectives After Nouns
While adjectives typically precede the nouns they modify, there are cases where adjectives come after the nouns. This is common in certain fixed expressions and with some adjectives in specific contexts.
Fixed Expressions
Certain fixed expressions in English place the adjective after the noun. These phrases are often idiomatic and should be memorized as set expressions. For example:
– The president elect
– The court martial
– Time immemorial
Adjectives Following Indefinite Pronouns
When adjectives modify indefinite pronouns such as something, everything, anything, or nothing, they typically come after the pronoun. For example:
– There is something strange about that house.
– She found nothing interesting at the store.
– Is there anything new to report?
Postpositive Adjectives
In some literary or formal contexts, adjectives may follow the noun they describe. This usage is more common in poetry, older texts, or legal language. For example:
– The heir apparent to the throne
– Members present at the meeting
– The best solution available
While this structure is less common in everyday speech, it is important to recognize and understand it when encountered.
Adjective Phrases and Clauses
Adjectives can also be part of larger phrases or clauses that provide additional information about a noun. These structures can either precede or follow the noun they modify.
Adjective Phrases
An adjective phrase consists of an adjective and any modifiers or complements. Adjective phrases can appear before or after the noun they modify. For example:
– A very tall building (adjective phrase before the noun)
– The building, tall and majestic, dominated the skyline. (adjective phrase after the noun)
In the second example, the adjective phrase (tall and majestic) provides additional information about the noun (building) and is set off by commas.
Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause, also known as a relative clause, contains a subject and a verb and begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, which). Adjective clauses always follow the noun they modify. For example:
– The book that you lent me is fascinating.
– The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
– The car, which he bought last year, is already broken down.
In each case, the adjective clause (that you lent me, who lives next door, which he bought last year) provides additional information about the noun (book, woman, car).
Adjective Placement in Comparative and Superlative Forms
When using comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, their position in the sentence remains consistent with the rules outlined above.
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things and are often followed by “than.” For example:
– She is taller than her brother.
– This book is more interesting than the other one.
In both sentences, the comparative adjectives (taller, more interesting) precede the nouns they modify (brother, book).
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives are used to describe the highest degree of a quality among three or more items. They are often preceded by “the.” For example:
– He is the tallest in his class.
– This is the most interesting book I have ever read.
Here, the superlative adjectives (tallest, most interesting) follow “the” and precede the nouns they modify (class, book).
Special Cases and Exceptions
While the rules and patterns discussed above cover most instances of adjective placement, there are always exceptions and special cases in any language. Let’s explore a few:
Adjectives with “As” or “So” Constructions
In sentences that use “as” or “so” to compare or equate qualities, the adjective placement can vary. For example:
– She is as talented as her sister.
– He is so smart that he skipped a grade.
In these cases, the adjectives (talented, smart) are part of a larger construction and follow the specific pattern of that construction.
Adjectives with “Too” or “Enough”
When using adjectives with “too” or “enough,” the adjective placement also follows a specific pattern. For example:
– She is too young to drive.
– He is smart enough to solve the problem.
Here, the adjectives (young, smart) follow “too” or precede “enough” and maintain their role in modifying the subject.
Practical Tips for Adjective Placement
Understanding the rules and patterns of adjective placement is important, but practice and application are key to mastering their use. Here are some practical tips to help you:
1. **Read and Listen:** Pay attention to how adjectives are used in books, articles, and conversations. This will help you internalize the natural flow of English and the common placement of adjectives.
2. **Practice Writing:** Write sentences using different types of adjectives and their various positions. This will reinforce your understanding and help you become more comfortable with their use.
3. **Use Adjective Order:** When using multiple adjectives, practice the standard order (opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose) to ensure your descriptions are clear and natural.
4. **Check for Coordinate Adjectives:** When using multiple adjectives, test if they are coordinate by inserting “and” or changing their order. Use commas appropriately for coordinate adjectives.
5. **Be Aware of Exceptions:** Familiarize yourself with common exceptions and special cases, such as fixed expressions and adjectives following indefinite pronouns.
Conclusion
Adjectives play a crucial role in adding detail and richness to our language. By understanding the rules and patterns of adjective placement, you can enhance your descriptive abilities and communicate more effectively. Whether you are using adjectives in the attributive or predicative position, organizing multiple adjectives, or dealing with special cases, the guidelines provided in this article will help you navigate the complexities of adjective placement in English. Remember to read, listen, and practice regularly to solidify your understanding and become a more confident and proficient language user.
