2. Modifier
is a word, phrase, or
clause that functions as an
adjective or adverb to
additional information about
another word or word group.
3. Example:
The dog was sniffing round
the detainee's heels.
The police dog was sniffing
round the detainee's heels.
Modifier
4. 1. Adjectives and Adverbs
as Modifiers
Adjectives as modifiers come
more often before the noun
than after it.
When a modifier is an
adjective, it modifies a noun
9. When a modifier is an adverb,
it modifies a verb, an adjective,
or another adverb.
Adverbs as modifiers occur
immediately before or after
the verb, and before an
adjective or another adverb.
Adverb as a modifier
12. Adverb modifying adverb
Example:
He now gets home more
quickly with his new car.
After her illness, she gets
tired exceptionally easily.
13. 2. Comparatives and Superlatives
as Modifiers
Comparatives and superlatives
can act as modifiers as they are
either adjectives or adverbs. The
comparative form is restricted to
comparing two things while the
superlative form compares more
than two things.
15. 3. Nouns as Modifiers
A noun can modify another
noun by coming immediately
before the noun that follows it.
When a noun acts as a
modifier, it is in its singular form.
16. Example:
They do not have
vegetable soup, but they
do have chicken soup and
tomato soup.
19. 4. Misplaced and Dangling
Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is a word or
phrase that is placed in a wrong place
in a sentence.
To correct it requires moving the
modifier to the right place, which is
next or as close as possible to the word
20. Example:
We nearly lived in that house
for five years. (Misplaced modifier)
We lived in that house for
nearly five years. (Correct)
21. He bought a squirrel
from a friend with a
bushy tail.
Correct: He bought a
squirrel with a bushy tail
from a friend.
22. Kept in her safe for many
years, she decided to wear
her gold necklace.
Correct: She decided to wear her
gold necklace, which had been
kept in her safe for many years
23. Gathering on the beach, the UFO
was watched by a large number
of people.
Correct: Gathering on the beach, a
large number of people watched
the UFO. Or
A large number of people gathered
on the beach to watch the UFO.)
24. Dangling Modifier
When we have a modifier in the form of a
word, phrase, or clause, we must make sure
there is something for it to modify. If the
something is not present in the sentence,
modifier will be wrongly modifying
something else and it is called a dangling
modifier.
To make correction, put in the word that has
been left out of the sentence for the
25. Looking at the sea, a boat
approaching shore was
noticed.
Correct: Looking at the sea, I
noticed a boat approaching
shore.
Example:
26. Once corrected and
rewritten, I got an A.
Correct: Once corrected and
rewritten, my paper got an A
Example:
27. When just six years old, my
grandmother tried to teach me
ballet.
Correct: When I was just six years
old my grandmother tried to
teach me ballet.
Example:
28. With a sigh of pleasure, consumption
of cucumber sandwiches commenced.
Correct: With a sigh of pleasure, Roland
began to consume cucumber sandwiches.
OR
After Roland sighed with pleasure, he
began to consume cucumber sandwiches.
Example: