There is a grammatical convention of the English language that is so important that if you do not comply you will sound like a blathering idiot. Yet few native speakers are consciously aware of that convention. This article explains:
It has to do with the ordering of adjectives. For example, we might say “an old red Ford pickup truck, but never, never would we say “a pickup Ford red old truck” I guess the ordering of adjectives is hard to make sense of for those learning English as adults. The article gives a rule for the ordering of adjectives but I’m not sure if that rule always holds sway. I’ve been trying to figure out why we speak as we do.
I think it has to do with the frequency that two words are paired. “Pickup truck” is said very often and there is no pause between the words. They might as well be a single word, and if it were German the two words would simply be run together and spelled as one word.
“Ford truck” is also said a lot, but not so often as the previous example, so “Ford pickup truck” sounds well to our ears.
That leaves “old” and “red”. Why don’t we say “red old truck”? We just don’t. Can anyone think of a reason?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Sometimes I wonder, with all the new things I can find about our language, even if I am a native English. Like everyone, I have a weak spot and issue, and that's idioms and phrasing. Sometimes, I just read a new word, and I can't figure out the meaning. What's always helps me is [sentencestack.com]. A sentence search engine that allows you to insert and look at the unknown word, see the meaning, and even some extra sentence examples for a better understanding. It's actually pretty great.
jakardon
Level 3
Aug 20, 2021
0
Spacial description followed by temporal description almost always precedes a physical description, in common speech, probably as an aid to mental visualization.
The building before them was ancient and decrepit,
for example allows for building up of a picture
A building, subject sets up what, before them, where it is, ancient, from when, decrepit how it stands.
Descriptors basically follow a variation on Kipling's honest serving men
Who/What, Where, when,how, why (Though "when" can be transposed to almost anywhere in the sentence and retain meaning especially if it remains adjacent to the subject)
The carpenter (who/what) approaching (where) appeared youngish(when) agitated (how) but purposeful (why)
However if the writer wishes to invoke suspense and mystery information is released in reverse he or she might say
Before them (where) a decrepit (rot? what is rotting?) old (the cause of the rot) building (Aha now it is revealed to me) the picture emerges slowly as if appearing out of a fog.
Purposefully approaching them, was an agitated, youngish looking carpenter.
You might also look in to the difference between the passive and active voice to get more insight in to this.
A similar trick is used to great effect in Star Wars when Yoda speaks, by preceding the subject with the action or object and finishing with the verb his ever utterance is mysterious and reveals only slowly what he means.
"Lost a planet, Master Kenobi has, how embarrassing"
"When 400 years old you are, look so good you will?"
LenHazell53
Level 9
Oct 22, 2019
1
Great analysis. Thanks.
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