Lesson 15 of 46

Adjectives

Place and form adjectives correctly.

The rules

1.Adjectives come before the noun or after "be": "a useful tool", "The tool is useful."
2.Adjectives never change for plural: two expensive cars, not two expensives cars.
3.With several adjectives, the usual order is opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material: "a lovely small old wooden table".
4.Use a hyphen for compound adjectives before a noun, and keep the noun singular: "a five-year plan", not "a five-years plan".

Incorrect: ~~She bought two expensives bags.~~

Correct: She bought two expensive bags.

No plural on adjectives.

Incorrect: ~~He wore a red big hat.~~

Correct: He wore a big red hat.

Size before colour.

Incorrect: ~~It is a five-years plan.~~

Correct: It is a five-year plan.

Singular in compound adjectives.

Watch out: Keep to two or three adjectives before a noun; more sounds unnatural.

1. She has a ___ car.

2. They are ___ students.

3. It was a ten-___ contract.

Paste any text and see exactly what to fix, with the rule explained.