What is the correct placement of adjectives in a sentence?
In English, adjectives usually come before the noun they are describing
In English, adjectives usually come before the noun they are describing. This is known as the attributive position. For example:
– She has a beautiful house.
– The big, yellow sunflower is in bloom.
– I saw two cute puppies at the park.
However, there are cases where adjectives can come after the noun. This is known as the predicative position. In this case, the adjective is linked to the noun by a verb, such as “is,” “seems,” or “appears.” For example:
– The house is beautiful.
– The sunflower looks big and yellow.
– The puppies seem cute.
It’s important to note that there are certain guidelines to follow when using multiple adjectives in a sentence:
1. Order of adjectives: When using multiple adjectives before a noun, there is a general order to follow: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. However, it’s not necessary to include every category in every sentence.
– She bought a lovely little house. (opinion – lovely, size – little)
– He drove a fast, old car. (opinion – fast, age – old)
2. Commas: If the adjectives are coordinate (equal importance), a comma is usually used to separate them. However, if the adjectives are cumulative (one modifies the other), a comma is not necessary.
– They live in a big, beautiful house. (coordinate)
– He wore a blue cotton shirt. (cumulative)
3. Consistency: Adjectives should be consistent in terms of tense and plural agreement with the noun they are modifying.
– He went on a long, tiring hike. (consistent tense)
– She has two cute, fluffy kittens. (consistent plural agreement)
Remember, these guidelines are not absolute and can be adjusted based on context and personal style.