Understand how English adjectives relate to nouns: adjectives usually do not change form for gender or number, and they follow fairly consistent position patterns. You will learn where adjectives go in a noun phrase, which adjectives can appear after the noun, and how adjective meaning can shift depending on position. You will also learn common patterns like adjective order, hyphenated compound adjectives, and special uses with pronouns and measurement.

In English, adjectives generally do not agree with the noun in gender, number, or case. The same adjective form is used with singular and plural nouns and with all people and things. This is different from many languages where adjectives change endings to match the noun.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Adjectives do not change for plural nouns	🔹 形容词对复数名词不变	a small car / 🟦 small cars	🟦 一辆小汽车 / 🟦 小汽车
Adjectives do not change for gender or person	🔹 形容词对性别或人称不变	a clever boy / 🟦 a clever girl	🟦 一个聪明的男孩 / 🟦 一个聪明的女孩
Adjectives do not change for case	🔹 形容词对格不变	with a new friend / 🟦 for a new friend	🟦 与一个新朋友 / 🟦 给一个新朋友

The most common position is before the noun inside the noun phrase. This is called the attributive position and is used to describe, classify, or identify the noun. If there is a determiner, the adjective typically goes between the determiner and the noun.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Adjective comes before the noun	🔹 形容词出现在名词之前	red shoes	🟦 红色的鞋子
Determiner + adjective + noun	🔹 限定词 + 形容词 + 名词	the red shoes	🟦 那双红色的鞋子
Multiple adjectives can stack before the noun	🔹 多个形容词可以堆叠在名词之前	a beautiful old house	🟦 一座美丽而古老的房子

Adjectives also appear after linking verbs, most commonly be, seem, look, feel, sound, taste, and become. In this position, the adjective describes the subject rather than directly modifying the noun. Predicative adjectives often sound more like a temporary state or evaluation, depending on context.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Subject + linking verb + adjective	🔹 主语 + 系动词 + 形容词	The soup tastes salty.	🟦 汤尝起来咸。
Common linking verbs introduce adjectives	🔹 常见的连系动词引出形容词	She seems tired.	🟦 她似乎很累。
Adjectives in this position describe the subject	🔹 此位置的形容词描述主语	The room is quiet.	🟦 房间很安静。

Some adjectives can appear after the noun, especially in fixed expressions, formal styles, or when the adjective has its own complement. This is called the postpositive position. It is common after indefinite pronouns and in phrases like the best option available or someone responsible for the project.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
After indefinite pronouns	🔹 在不定代词之后	something new	🟦 某些新东西
After the noun when the adjective has a complement	🔹 当形容词有补语时置于名词之后	students eager to learn	🟦 学生渴望学习
Fixed or formal expressions	🔹 固定或正式表达	the people involved	🟦 相关人员参与

Some adjectives can change meaning depending on whether they are used before the noun or after a linking verb, or depending on which part of the phrase they attach to. Position can affect whether the adjective feels like an inherent characteristic, a current condition, or a more descriptive remark. In certain phrases, the post-noun adjective can narrow meaning to a specific subset.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Before the noun can feel more like a label or type	🔹 名词前置更像标签或类型	a responsible manager	🟦 一个负责任的经理
After a linking verb can feel more like a current evaluation	🔹 连系动词后置更像当前评估	The manager is responsible.	🟦 经理是负责任的。
Postpositive use can narrow the reference	🔹 后置用法可缩小指称范围	the students present	🟦 在场的学生们

When multiple adjectives appear before a noun, English uses a typical order that sounds natural to native speakers. The order is not a strict grammar rule, but changing it can sound odd or change emphasis. A common sequence is opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Opinion usually comes before factual description	🔹 观点通常在事实描述之前	a wonderful small cafe	🟦 一家很棒的小咖啡馆
Size often comes before color	🔹 大小通常在颜色之前	a big red bag	🟦 一个大红色的包
Material often comes close to the noun	🔹 材料通常靠近名词	a beautiful old wooden table	🟦 一张美丽而古老的木桌

English often combines words to form compound adjectives, especially before a noun. Many common compounds use hyphens to show that the words work together as one modifier. Hyphenation is especially helpful when the compound includes a number or could be misread.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Hyphenate multiword modifiers before a noun	🔹 在名词前给多词修饰词加连字符	a well-known author	🟦 一位知名的作者
Use hyphens with numbers used as adjectives	🔹 使用连字符把作为形容词的数字连接起来	a ten-year-old child	🟦 一个十岁的小孩
No hyphen when the phrase comes after the noun	🔹 当短语在名词之后时不使用连字符	The author is well known.	🟦 作者很出名。

After indefinite pronouns like something, someone, anywhere, adjectives usually come after the pronoun. This pattern is very common and sounds natural in both speech and writing. It also appears with expressions like someone else and nothing special.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Indefinite pronoun + adjective	🔹 不定代词 + 形容词	nothing interesting	🟦 没有意思的事物
Someone, anyone, no one follow the same pattern	🔹 某人、任何人、没有人 遵循相同模式	someone important	🟦 某人很重要
Fixed combinations are frequent	🔹 固定搭配很常见	something else	🟦 其他事情

English often uses a noun to modify another noun, functioning like an adjective. This is common for categories, purpose, or type, such as coffee cup or school uniform. The modifier noun is usually singular even when the main noun is plural, though there are important exceptions like sports and some established forms.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Modifier noun usually stays singular	🔹 修饰名词通常保持单数	car door / 🟦 car doors	🟦 车门 / 🟦 车门（复数）
Use when describing type or category	🔹 用于描述类型或类别	a winter coat	🟦 一件冬季大衣
Some established plural modifiers exist	🔹 存在一些已确立的复数修饰语	a sports car	🟦 一辆跑车

English adjectives typically keep one form and rely on position to show how they relate to nouns. Most adjectives appear before the noun, but many also appear after linking verbs, and some appear after the noun in special patterns. Natural adjective order, compound adjectives, and noun modifiers help you build clear, fluent noun phrases.