1. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
INQUIRY QUESTION: When do I use commas in a list of adjectives? When do I not?

2. Notes
Most of the time, you put commas between the adjectives in a list. However, you don’t need a comma with a special type of adjective called a “noncoordinating adjective.” Just think of them as “special.” Here’s one way you can tell they are special: you can’t change their order. The beautiful, shiny expensive cars impressed him. The expensive, shiny, beautiful cars impressed him. The shiny, expensive, beautiful cars impressed him. The five red sports cars impressed him. The red five sports cars impressed him. noncoordinating – don’t use commas The sports five red cars impressed him. noncoordinating – don’t use commas Here’s another way you can tell they are special: you can’t add “and” between them. The beautiful and shiny and expensive cars impressed him. The red and five and sports cars impressed him. noncoordinating – don’t use commas

3. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Most of the time, you put commas between the adjectives in a list. We devoured the mouthwatering, fresh-baked pizza. Oh my amazing, beautiful, wonderful sister, will you please share those cookies with me?

4. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
However, you don’t need a comma with a special type of adjective called a “noncoordinating adjective”: It’s the little old lady from Pasadena! She’s got a pretty little flowerbed with white gardenias. Parked in her rickety old garage is a brand-new, shiny red super-stock Dodge! Just think of them as “rebel adjectives.”

5. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Here’s one way you can tell they are “rebel adjectives” that don’t need a comma: You can’t change their order.

6. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Normal adjectives let you move them in any order you like without a problem: The beautiful, shiny expensive cars impressed him. The expensive, shiny, beautiful cars impressed him. The shiny, expensive, beautiful cars impressed him.

7. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Normal adjectives let you move them in any order you like without a problem: The beautiful, shiny, expensive cars impressed him.

8. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Normal adjectives let you move them in any order you like without a problem: The beautiful, shiny, expensive cars impressed him. The expensive, shiny, beautiful cars impressed him. The shiny, expensive, beautiful cars impressed him.

9. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But, some adjectives just gotta be difficult:
The five red sports cars impressed him.

10. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But, some adjectives just gotta be difficult:
The five red sports cars impressed him.
The red five sports cars impressed him.

11. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But, some adjectives just gotta be difficult:
The five red sports cars impressed him.
The red five sports cars impressed him.
The sports five red cars impressed him.

12. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But, some adjectives just gotta be difficult:
The five red sports cars impressed him.
The red five sports cars impressed him.
The sports five red cars impressed him.

13. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But, some adjectives just gotta be difficult:
The five red sports cars impressed him.
The red five sports cars impressed him.
The sports five red cars impressed him.
So, these adjectives are noncoordinating. Don’t use a comma!

14. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Here’s another way to spot “rebel adjectives.”
Regular adjectives let you substitute “and” for a comma.
The beautiful, shiny, expensive cars impressed him. =
The beautiful and shiny and expensive cars impressed him.

15. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But what about our other sentence? Can we substitute “and” for the commas? The five red sports cars impressed him.

16. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
But what about our other sentence? Can we substitute “and” for the commas? The five red sports cars impressed him. The five and red and sports cars impressed him. Nope.

17. Surname 106 NOTES: Noncoordinating Adjectives
Since the “And Test” shows these adjectives are noncoordinating, we don’t use commas for them: The five red sports cars impressed him. The beautiful, shiny, expensive cars impressed him.