# Slate: Why do we tend to use adjectives in a particular order? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553 "2014-08-14T23:02:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/1 "2014-08-14T23:02:14Z")
Quite intriguing, I thought - and I was surprised to learn that languages other than English tend to follow the same unwritten rules: [The study of adjective order and GSSSACPM.](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_good_word/2014/08/the_study_of_adjective_order_and_gsssacpm.html) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/2 "2014-08-15T17:44:56Z")
I thought it might be fun to produce a noun phrase with all eight adjective types, in alphabetical order: A, B, C, D, etc. Doubtless someone will be able to improve on my first try: _A beautiful costly decade-old ebony-colored French galfenol heating iron_ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/3 "2014-08-15T20:35:00Z")
I read that article a couple of days ago, and thought it was very interesting. It’s amazing how awkward it can sound when you put the adjectives in the “wrong” order. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/4 "2014-08-15T21:01:56Z")
Yes, it can very irritating. The French speaking Ministry of Education in Quebec imposed the name “English Montreal School Board”, apparently not realizing how awkward it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/5 "2014-08-15T21:02:58Z")
Some languages (Spanish and Portuguese, but not italian and Romanian; Hungarian but not Finnish) divide adjectives into permanent conditions and temporary conditions, and a different verb “to be” (ser, estar) is required, depending on which descriptive category is being referenced. I am lazy = Soy perezoso. I am tired = Estoy cansado. A similar distinction in a proto language may have contributed the order. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/6 "2014-08-15T23:12:05Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Yes, it can very irritating. The French speaking Ministry of Education in Quebec imposed the name “English Montreal School Board”, apparently not realizing how awkward it sounds. I wouldn’t put it past some of the Francophones in Quebec government to do that on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/7 "2014-08-16T01:20:30Z")
I remember reading that Tolkien, in his youth, once wrote about a “green great dragon,” and his mom suggested the two adjectives’ order be switched. When he asked, “Why?” she had no good answer. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/8 "2014-08-16T04:15:40Z")
Folks studying German sometimes learn the mnemonic TMPO: Time, Manner, Place, Object. Oh, and then a verb. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-why-do-we-tend-to-use-adjectives-in-a-particular-order/695553/9 "2014-08-17T12:51:00Z")
The CBC refers calls them “the Olympic Winter/Summer Games” when they do their broadcasts. Always drives me nuts!