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I would like to as about adjectives order.

As I understand there is a rule for adjective order in adj adj noun.

Here is my understanding: Opinion>Size>Shape>Age>Color>Nationality/Origin>Material>Purpose

I got it for size - purpose adjectives. But what about opinion?

Does adjective like "hungry", "curious", "playful", "crazy" categorized as opinion?

Sorry if this sounds like very basic question.

Thanks in advance mate!

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  • You would say "a large hungry cat", and not "a hungry large cat", so maybe not. See Ngram for confirmation. Things like "hungry" seem to fall under "human propensity" in the post linked in the comment above, which goes between shape and age. May 15, 2016 at 12:11
  • The answers to the duplicate question aren't satisfactory for this question. Most of the answers don't even include the proper category, and the one that does labels it "human propensity," which isn't very clear. May 15, 2016 at 12:26
  • This is a question about idiomatic usage, not "rules" of any substance. The above ordering (and similar ones) will produce a sentence that sounds idiomatic most of the time, but there are many cases where rigid adherence to the ordering will lead you astray.
    – Hot Licks
    May 15, 2016 at 12:44
  • It can also depend simply on which characteristic you particularly want to emphasise at the time.
    – TrevorD
    May 15, 2016 at 12:48
  • For example I want to say a big cat being curious. The cat is big and the cat is curious. Should I go with "a big curious cat" or "a curious big cat"? May 15, 2016 at 13:16

1 Answer 1

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Yes, there is a correct word order for adjectives. Hunger is not an opinion. It is a state. A feeling. A sad hungry Man.For grammar purpuses it is an adjective of Quality. Adjectives of quality can be placed after the verbs. The man seemed tired and hungry.

or The tall tired hungry man climbed the massive mountain. The clever curious cat found a mouse. That cat is curious. That is a demonstrative adjective followed by noun verb adjective. Just to show you a change in word order. Normal word order is opinion, size,physical Quality,shape,age,colour,origin,material,type and purpose.

Your question should be written in the following way.

Do Adjectives ..... not Does Adjectives.... Because you need the plural form Playful, crazy and curious are adjectives of quality.

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  • Hi Pam, thanks for the explanation! Could you give more explanation or example? Especially for opinion and physical quality adjectives. Thanks! May 15, 2016 at 13:19
  • Here's a video that goes over adjective order and exceptions. youtube.com/watch?v=mTm1tJYr5_M May 15, 2016 at 13:57

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