Adjectives in a Series and Compound Adjectives

When describing people, places, animals, or objects, several adjectives may be used to create a vivid picture.

We can improve two big brown shoulder bags by writing two big new brown leather shoulder bags.

At times, the adjectives get jumbled and the sentence becomes confusing - big two new leather brown shoulder bags

Therefore, when using a series of adjectives, a certain pattern must be followed:

determiner (consisting of an article, a demonstrative, or a number) - the, this, one

evaluation (based on observation, opinion, attitude, or judgment) - elegant, interesting

size - small, thin

physical quality - soft, cold

age - new, middle-aged

shape - round, square

color - brown, silver

participle - tattered

origin or nationality - Italian, American

material - leather, silk

purpose (or noun modifier) - party, reference

modified noun - book, bag

You should avoid using more than four adjectives so that the sentence does not appear cluttered and awkward. If more adjectives are required, use an adjective phrase.

two big new brown leather shoulder bags

can be written as

two big new shoulder bags of brown leather