The Ordering of Adjectives |
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When two or more adjectives
come before a noun, their relative order is fixed to a certain degree.
This means, for instance, that while complex mathematical studies
is grammatically acceptable, mathematical complex studies is less
so. Similarly:
Here we will discuss some of the most common sequences which occur, though these should not be seen as ordering rules. Counter examples can often be found quite easily. Central adjectives, as we saw earlier, are adjectives which fulfil all the criteria for the adjective class. In this sense, they are more "adjectival" than, say, denominal adjectives, which also have some of the properties of nouns. This distinction has some significance in the ordering of adjectives. In general, the more adjectival a word is, the farther from the noun it will be. Conversely, the less adjectival it is (the more nominal), the nearer to the noun it will be. The relative order of these adjective types, then, is: Sequence (1): CENTRAL -- DENOMINAL -- NOUN This is the ordering found in complex
mathematical studies, for instance, and also in the following examples:
heavy woollen clothes huge polar bears Sequence (2): CENTRAL -- COLOUR -- NOUN
heavy black clothes huge white bears Sequence (3): COLOUR -- DENOMINAL -- NOUN
black woollen clothes white polar bears Sequence (4): CENTRAL -- PARTICIPIAL --
DENOMINAL -- NOUN
heavy knitted woollen clothes huge dancing polar bears
Sequence (5): NON-GRADABLE -- CENTRAL -- COLOUR -- DENOMINAL -- NOUN Non-gradable adjectives, in fact, are always first in an adjective sequence. Here are some more examples: Sequence (5a): NON-GRADABLE -- CENTRAL
-- NOUN
beautiful little flowers rich young people The ordering of adjectives is influenced to some
degree by the presence of premodification. If one or more of the adjectives
in a sequence is premodified, say, by very, then it generally comes
at the start of the sequence.
?The laryngograph provides us with a non-invasive physical very accurate measure of voice
a very wealthy young businessman
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