Grammar for IELTS adjective order

Grammar for IELTS adjective order

Grammar for IELTS adjective order

Home 9 Free IELTS grammar resources 9 Grammar for IELTS adjective order

We hope you find this free IELTS resource useful! However, if you’re really looking to achieve IELTS success, become a member! You will get instant access to the complete IELTS course (Academic or General Training), the 6-level general English course, the IELTS vocabulary course and the 7 downloadable eBooks (with audio files). MASTER Members also get 10 writing tests (Task 1 and Task 2) assessed with comments, corrections and estimated band score, as well as 2 live speaking assessments, one to one with a trained IELTS examiner.

Adjective order is important if you are using more than one adjective before a noun. There is often a specific order in which they must be placed. For example:

A black leather jacket
A leather black jacket 

Here is a short acronym to help you remember:

OSASCOMP

opinion – size – age – shape – colour – origin – material – purpose

Below you will find an explanation for each letter and some example sentences.

Adjective Order Rule 1: OSASCOMP – O for opinion

Adjectives that talk about opinions, judgements or attitudes usually come first.

Opinions, judgements or attitudes Noun
a lovely jacket.
a perfect plate.
an expensive bike.

Adjective Order Rule 2: OSASCOMP – S for size

Adjectives relating to size, length and height come next. For example:

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Noun
a lovely large jacket.
a perfect big plate.
an expensive bike.

 

Adjective Order Rule 3: OSASCOMP – A for age

Next are any adjectives relating to age

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Noun
a lovely large new jacket.
a perfect big old plate.
an expensive modern bike.

Adjective Order Rule #4: OSASCOMP – S for shape

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Noun
a lovely large new jacket.
a perfect big old round plate.
an expensive modern bike.

Adjective Order Rule #5: OSASCOMP – C for colour

Next are the adjectives that talk about colour.

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Colour Noun
a lovely large new black jacket.
a perfect big old round white plate.
an expensive modern red bike.

 

Adjective Order Rule #6: OSASCOMP – O for origin

This refers to adjectives that say where the noun is from.

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Colour Origin Noun
a lovely large new black jacket.
a perfect big old round white Chinese plate.
an expensive modern red Italian bike.

Adjective Order Rule #7: OSASCOMP – M for material

This refers to what the noun is made of.

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Colour Origin Material Noun
a lovely large new black leather jacket.
a perfect big old round white Chinese porcelain plate.
an expensive modern red Italian bike.

 

Adjective Order Rule #8: OSASCOMP – P for purpose

This refers to what the noun is used for (e.g. wedding ring). They are often nouns used as adjectives.

Judgements, opinions or attitudes Size, length, height Age Shape Colour Origin Material Purpose Noun
a lovely large new black leather jacket.
a perfect big old round white Chinese porcelain dinner plate.
an expensive modern red Italian sports bike.

Important notes:

1. The adjectives used in the tables above are examples only. It is uncommon in English to use more than three adjectives in the same sentence to describe a noun.

2. Some adjectives can be found in different positions, but if you follow the OSASCOMP rule you won’t be wrong!

Ready to become a full member and unlock our complete IELTS preparation course?
SELECT YOUR MEMBERSHIP BELOW
General Training Module IELTS - SPEED Membership

GENERAL TRAINING

SPEED MEMBERSHIP

SPEED Membership includes full access to the 10 Unit IELTS course, the 6-level general English course, the IELTS vocabulary course, the 7 downloadable eBooks and 15 complete IELTS practice tests, all with your own dedicated support tutor.

90 DAYS ACCESS

…or click here to learn more

General Training Module IELTS - SPEED Membership

ACADEMIC MODULE

SPEED MEMBERSHIP

SPEED Membership includes full access to the 10 Unit IELTS course, the 6-level general English course, the IELTS vocabulary course, the 7 downloadable eBooks and 15 complete IELTS practice tests, all with your own dedicated support tutor.

90 DAYS ACCESS

…or click here to learn more

GENERAL TRAINING MASTER MEMBERSHIP

GENERAL TRAINING

MASTER MEMBERSHIP

MASTER Membership includes everything in the SPEED membership, as well as 10 writing tests assessed with comments and corrections AND 2 live speaking assessments one to one with your support tutor (a trained IELTS examiner) via Skype or Whatsapp.

6 MONTHS ACCESS

…or click here to learn more

ACADEMIC MODULE MASTER MEMBERSHIP

ACADEMIC MODULE

MASTER MEMBERSHIP

MASTER Membership includes everything in the SPEED membership, as well as 10 writing tests assessed with comments and corrections AND 2 live speaking assessments one to one with your support tutor (a trained IELTS examiner) via Skype or Whatsapp.

6 MONTHS ACCESS

…or click here to learn more