## The order of adjectives

As you have seen, it is possible to put multiple adjectives in a row in front of a noun or pronoun.

Often we find two adjectives in a row to describe something:

- a peculiar musty smell

but it is possible to use more:

- a silken, sad, uncertain rustling
- The worst thing of all was its teeth. They were long, pointy, sharp and beastly.

Using multiple adjectives in a row is useful in short stories, especially scary ones. They can be used to quickly set the scene, or to describe something terrifying or disturbing in detail.

When using multiple adjectives in a row, there is a specific order to use. Most native English speakers aren't even aware of this, but they instinctively follow this order it nonetheless.

Luckily, non-native English speakers like us can learn how to put adjectives in the correct order, using the chart below.

Tip! The rule of thumb is: opinions first, than the more neutral adjectives and facts.

Want more info on the order of adjectives?
Click on the source link below the picture.

Good to know:

This word order chart is a helpful tool. However, the order of adjectives is not set in stone. In order to emphasize (nadruk leggen op) a certain adjective, you can bring it to the front.
For example:

"Luiz scanned the room for a handsome, tall, dark-haired gentleman." follows the standard order:
opinion - size - 'material'

He probably doesn't have a particular gentleman in mind yet.
Or maybe he does, and the fact that he's handsome is most important.
But if Luiz's goal was to specifically find a gentleman with dark hair, you could say:

"Luiz was given specific orders - his master didn't want someone fair-haired this time. It made hiding the scars on their scalps difficult. So, Luiz scanned the room for a dark-haired, handsome, tall gentleman."

The adjective 'dark-haired' is emphasized by bringing it to the front.

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