Separate coordinate adjectives
The idea
If the adjectives can be joined naturally by and and reversed without changing the basic sense, they are usually coordinate.
Step by step
- Find the adjectives before the noun.
- Test whether each separately describes the noun and whether and fits naturally between them.
- Put a comma between coordinate adjectives, not between the final adjective and its noun.
Example
Describe a path using both narrow and muddy before the noun path. Each adjective independently describes the path.
Both adjectives independently describe the path. Which punctuation is correct?
Answer
a narrow, muddy path
Narrow and muddy each describe path; the comma separates them, without a comma before path.
Start quiz5 questions
5 questionsTry it together
Describe a trail with two coordinate adjectives. Read the phrase in both adjective orders.
Share practice
