a small cat
- Language
- English
- Level
- A1
- Unit
- Adjectives and Adverbs
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Adjective word order in English means the order in which you put adjectives (describing words) before a noun.
When to use it
Use adjective word order when you want to describe a person, place, or thing with one or more adjectives.
Key forms
- adjective + noun
- opinion adjective + other adjective + noun
- Example: a big red apple
Examples
a beautiful old house
three big green apples
an interesting new book
Tips
- In English, adjectives come before the noun.
- When you use more than one adjective, the usual order is: opinion, size, age, color, noun.
- Do not put 'and' between adjectives unless you are listing different ideas.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some adjectives have special positions, like 'afraid', which usually comes after the verb: 'The cat is afraid.'
Word of the Day
Today's hand-picked vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation page for English. Bookmark this section — it refreshes every day.
Get one new word every morning
Subscribe to SmartWords daily picks. Choose the topics you want — we send one short email per day.
Keep exploring
Play SmartWords games
Six word games built around our real vocabulary — free in the browser, no install.
Open the game hub →-
Word Sling
Match the center word under time pressure and keep the combo alive.
Play now → -
Word Gate
Fly through the correct gate before the speed ramps up.
Play now → -
Word Ninja
Slice the goal-language words, avoid the main-language decoy, and chase the announced bonus target.
Play now → -
Word Zip
Trace a single path across the board, hit each letter anchor in order, and fill every open cell.
Play now → -
Word Oddity
Pick the word that doesn't belong from a topic-driven set — every tap reveals all four meanings and images so the round becomes a flash-card too.
Play now → -
Word Memory
Flip and match goal-language words to their main-language meaning before your lives run out.
Play now →