Adjectives
Adjectives, regardless of type, help the reader to visualize the noun that is being described.
(Learn more here)
Common Core standard L.7.2.a
Coordinate Adjectives
What they are: All adjectives describe nouns. When multiple adjectives equally describe the same noun, their order can be switched without losing meaning. If you remove one adjective, the other still clearly describes the noun. These adjectives need commas between them.
Examples: Fresh, cold water; beautiful, fragrant flowers; dark, gloomy day
Cumulative Adjectives
What they are: All adjectives describe nouns. However, some adjectives build on each other when describing the same noun. These adjectives need to go in a specific order, and they do not get commas between them. If you remove one adjective, the meaning of the phrase gets lost.
Examples: This old man; Three beautiful rectangular Turkish rugs; An ancient stone swimming pool
Order of adjectives: Determiners (the, this, those), number (three, fourteen, one thousand), opinion (beautiful, ugly, shrill), size (large, small), age (ancient, young), shape (triangular, square), color (green, turquoise, iridescent), origin (American, French), material (wooden, plastic), function (gardening, swimming, basketball)
A note on function: These words are either nouns used as adjectives or participles (see 8th grade).
Note: While you likely won’t use all of these adjectives to describe a single noun, it is good to know the order in case you use more than one, as well as to know when a comma is not needed.
Practice: Coordinate (comma) or cumulative (no comma)?
Purple sparkly dress
American garden hose
Bright sunny day
Fifteen wooden nickels
Bright green tarantula
Answers:
Coordinate (comma)
Cumulative (no comma)
Coordinate (comma)
Cumulative (no comma)
Cumulative (no comma)