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Adjectives with and

When two or more adjectives (or other modifiers) come together, we sometimes put and before the last one, and sometimes not. It depends partly on their position in the sentence, and partly the kinds of information they give.

After a verb​

When adjectives come in predicative position (after be, seem and similar verbs, (see here), we usually put and before the last one.

  • He was tall, dark and handsome.
  • You’re like a winter’s day: short, dark and dirty.

In a very literary style, and is sometimes left out.

  • My soul is exotic, mysterious, incomprehensible.

Before a noun​

In attributive position (before a noun), and is less common.

  • a big beautiful garden

However, and is possible when the adjectives give similar kinds of information, especially when we are ‘piling up’ favourable or unfavourable descriptions.

  • a cruel (and) vicious tyrant
  • a warm (and) generous personality
  • an ill-planned, expensive (and) wasteful project

And is necessary when two or more adjectives (or other modifiers) refer to different parts of something, or distinguish different types of thing.

  • a yellow and black sports car
  • a concrete and glass factory
  • hot and cold drinks (= hot drinks and cold drinks)

We also use and when we say that something belongs to two or more different classes.

  • It’s a social and political problem.
  • She’s a musical and artistic genius.

And not used​

We do not use and between adjectives that give different kinds of information.

  • an angry young man (not an angry and young man)
  • a ridiculous economic policy (not a ridiculous and economic policy)

nice and …​

In an informal style, the expression nice and is often used before another adjective or an adverb. It means something like ‘pleasantly’ or ‘suitably’.

  • It’s nice and warm in front of the fire. (= pleasantly warm)

  • The work was nice and easy.

  • Now just put your gun down nice and slow.

note

For more information about and, (see here).