Learn the secret rule for arranging multiple adjectives in the correct order. Perfect for Class 9-10 students. Master the OSASCOMP rule with clear examples.
1. What is Adjective Order?
When we use multiple adjectives before a noun, they must follow a specific order. English speakers follow this order naturally.
| Wrong Order ❌ | Correct Order ✅ | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| a red big ball | a big red ball | Size comes before color |
| a French wooden old table | an old French wooden table | Age → Origin → Material |
| round three small boxes | three small round boxes | Number → Size → Shape |
| plastic blue beautiful vase | a beautiful blue plastic vase | Opinion → Color → Material |
2. The OSASCOMP Rule (Memory Trick)
| Letter | Category | Examples | Question Answered |
|---|---|---|---|
| O | Opinion | beautiful, ugly, nice, bad | What do you think? |
| S | Size | big, small, tall, short | How big? |
| A | Age | old, young, new, ancient | How old? |
| S | Shape | round, square, triangular | What shape? |
| C | Color | red, blue, green, black | What color? |
| O | Origin | French, Indian, Chinese, American | Where from? |
| M | Material | wooden, plastic, silk, cotton | Made of what? |
| P | Purpose | sleeping (bag), running (shoes) | What for? |
3. OSASCOMP in Action
| Adjectives Used | Correct Order | Noun | Full Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| beautiful (O), big (S), round (S), red (C) | O → S → S → C | ball | a beautiful big round red ball |
| old (A), French (O), wooden (M) | A → O → M | table | an old French wooden table |
| three (N), small (S), square (S), plastic (M) | N → S → S → M | boxes | three small square plastic boxes |
| lovely (O), young (A), Indian (O) | O → A → O | girl | a lovely young Indian girl |
| new (A), black (C), leather (M) | A → C → M | jacket | a new black leather jacket |
4. Special Notes & Exceptions
| Rule | Example | Why | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commas between same category | a beautiful, expensive dress | Both are opinion adjectives | Use comma or "and" |
| No comma between different categories | a beautiful red dress | Opinion + Color (different) | No comma needed |
| Purpose adjectives often compound | sleeping bag, running shoes | Function as single idea | Usually hyphenated or one word |
| Numbers always first | two big red balls | Quantity comes first | Before any descriptive adjectives |
| Articles/demonstratives come first | the, a, an, this, that, these, those | They introduce the noun phrase | Always at the beginning |
5. Practice: Arrange Adjectives
| Mixed Adjectives | Correct Order | Noun | OSASCOMP Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| wooden, old, large, brown | large old brown wooden | door | S → A → C → M |
| Chinese, silk, beautiful, red | beautiful red Chinese silk | scarf | O → C → O → M |
| round, three, metal, small | three small round metal | buttons | N → S → S → M |
| French, delicious, white | delicious white French | cheese | O → C → O |
| plastic, blue, new, rectangular | new rectangular blue plastic | container | A → S → C → M |
6. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| a red big car | a big red car | Size before color |
| Chinese old pottery | old Chinese pottery | Age before origin |
| plastic blue bottle | blue plastic bottle | Color before material |
| square three boxes | three square boxes | Number before shape |
| beautiful silk red sari | beautiful red silk sari | Opinion → Color → Material |
🧩 Adjective Order Puzzle
Arrange these adjectives in correct order:
1. Adjectives: wooden / big / brown
Noun: table
Correct order: big brown wooden table
2. Adjectives: French / delicious / soft
Noun: bread
Correct order: delicious soft French bread
3. Adjectives: round / three / metal / small
Noun: coins
Correct order: three small round metal coins
Highlight dark blue areas to see correct orders
8. Memory Aids & Tips
OSASCOMP Mnemonic:
Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose
Remember: "Oh Such A Sweet Cat On My Pillow"
Quick Test Order:
1. What do you think? (Opinion: beautiful, ugly)
2. How big? (Size: big, small)
3. How old? (Age: old, new)
4. What shape? (Shape: round, square)
5. What color? (Color: red, blue)
6. Where from? (Origin: Indian, Chinese)
7. Made of? (Material: wooden, plastic)
8. What for? (Purpose: sleeping, cooking)
Numbers & Articles Rule:
Articles/numbers come FIRST: the, a, an, two, three
Then follow OSASCOMP order
Example: "the two beautiful big round red Indian silk wedding saris"
Exam Tip:
1. Remember OSASCOMP order
2. Articles/numbers always first
3. Use commas for same category adjectives
4. Practice with real objects around you
5. Native speakers follow this naturally - if it sounds wrong, check the order!
📝 Practice Adjective Order
Test with our 25-question worksheet on OSASCOMP rule!
Download Adjective Order WorksheetIncludes answer key • OSASCOMP practice • Arrangement exercises • Printable PDF
