What Are Modifiers? (with Examples)
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause which functions as an adjective or an adverb to describe a word or make its meaning more specific.Examples of Modifiers
Modifiers can play the roles of adjectives or adverbs.Modifiers As Adjectives
When a modifier is an adjective, it modifies a noun or a pronoun. (In these examples, the modifiers are shaded, and the words being modified are bold).
- Lee caught a small mackerel. (Here, the adjective small modifies the noun mackerel.)
- Lee caught a small mackerel. (Don't forget that articles (i.e., the, an, and a) are adjectives too. Here, a modifies the noun mackerel as does small.)
- Lee caught another one. (Here, the adjective another modifies the pronoun one.)
When a modifier is an adverb, it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. For example:
- Lee accidentally caught a small whelk. (Here, the adverb accidentally modifies the verb caught.)
- Lee caught an incredibly small mackerel. (Here, the adverb incredibly modifies the adjective small.)
- Lee supposedly accidentally caught a small whelk. (Here, the adverb supposedly modifies the adverb accidentally.)
A Modifier Can Be a Phrase or a Clause
Don't forget that phrases and clauses can play the roles of adjectives and adverbs too. For example:- Lee caught a mackerel smaller than a Mars bar. (This is an adjective phrase modifying the noun mackerel.)
- Lee caught a mackerel of tiny proportions. (This is a prepositional phrase functioning as an adjective. It modifies the nounmackerel.)
- Lee caught a mackerel which was smaller than a Mars bar. (This is an adjective clause modifying mackerel.)
- When alone, Lee tried to catch mackerel. (This is an adverbial phrase (of time) modifying the verb tried.)
- When we left him alone, Lee set up his rod to catch mackerel. (This is an adverbial clause (of time) modifying the verb set up.)
Exercise 1: Participles
No comments:
Post a Comment