Which sentence shows no comma between two adjectives whose order is not reversible?

Prepare for the ACT Conventions of Standard English Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each enriched with hints and explanations. Achieve success in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which sentence shows no comma between two adjectives whose order is not reversible?

Explanation:
Think about how multiple adjectives before a noun can relate to each other: some describe the same thing equally (coordinate) and you separate them with a comma, while others build up a single image and the order matters (cumulative), with no comma. In The sleek wooden chair, the two adjectives work together to describe the chair in one layered way. The order follows the common pattern of opinion/appearance before material, and you wouldn’t swap them to say wooden sleek chair in natural, everyday usage. Since the meaning is built in a single, ordered way, no comma is used between them. The other options show a comma between the adjectives, which signals coordinate descriptors, or reorderings/punctuation that disrupt the natural, cumulative sequence. That’s why that sentence without a comma is the correct illustration of non-reversible adjective order.

Think about how multiple adjectives before a noun can relate to each other: some describe the same thing equally (coordinate) and you separate them with a comma, while others build up a single image and the order matters (cumulative), with no comma.

In The sleek wooden chair, the two adjectives work together to describe the chair in one layered way. The order follows the common pattern of opinion/appearance before material, and you wouldn’t swap them to say wooden sleek chair in natural, everyday usage. Since the meaning is built in a single, ordered way, no comma is used between them.

The other options show a comma between the adjectives, which signals coordinate descriptors, or reorderings/punctuation that disrupt the natural, cumulative sequence. That’s why that sentence without a comma is the correct illustration of non-reversible adjective order.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy