This page has lots of examples of modifiers and an interactive test. Aug, 2019 in english grammar, a modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adjective or adverb to provide additional information about another word or word group called the head. Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, desmond saw. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning. For example, in the following sentence, the word burger is modified by the word vegetarian. Choose the sentence in which the modifiers are correctly placed. Misplaced modifiers unit 73200 information about misplaced modifiers can be found in 3200frames 14881526. Modifiers grammar academic guides at walden university. When this happens, it is called a dangling modifier. The idea is that a sentence like 4a has a logical form which is roughly like that of. A working definition for the word modify is to change or to alter something. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. Grammar and mechanics using participles a participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective to modify nouns or pronouns. In most of the examples above, its not always clear who or what the sentence is.
Using modifiers correctly pages 2234 forms of modifiers a modifier is a word, a phrase, or a clause that makes the meaning of a word or word group more specific. Adjectives and adverbs are modifiers, and youll learn more about them and how to diagram them with these exercises sentence diagramming is a great way to see how the words in a sentence are related, and with these exercises, youll be able to see how adjectives and adverbs describe other words. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so. Just as there are possessive pronoun forms, there are possessive. As explained in the introduction, the correct answer and rationale for each question is located at the back for your ready reference. Nominal and modifiers mood, voice and auxiliaries the sentence the verbal group linking words vocabulary using tell me more grammarvocabulary workbooks. The digital camera was dropped and all the files were deleted. Huddleston 533, 541 also see past participle verb forms 1 and past participle verb forms 2 for each verb. Modifiers are single words or phrases that modify other words or phrases. Rogers had a childrens show with a train and puppet. Adjectives describe, identify, or quantify nouns or pronouns. Add an adverb before certain twosyllable modifiers and before most of the longer modifiers.
Resources for more information on dangling modifiers and other grammar issues, you can consult. To add the idea of degree to gradable adjectives and adverbs, we use the degree modifiers very, too, much, quite, rather, enough etc. If you keep sentences short and simple and use active voice, you probably wont run into dangling or misplaced modifiers. Writers have problems using modifiers when they forget to mention the word that the modifier is supposed to describe. A misplaced modifier is an adjective or adverb that is out of position. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms. These modifiers may be clauses, phrases, or single words. Noun modifiers this article is about noun modifiers enjoy your reading. Chapter 4 modifiers and complements adjectives and. Learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a complex and confusing task which can often end in frustration. Types of adjectives adjectives can take several forms. Modifiers can either be adjectives or adverbs and can be phrases, dependent clauses, or single words. This definition is the same when considering the purpose of modifiers within a sentence.
Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Write these base nouns on the board suggested modifiers below. The modifier, using astronavigation, is unclear in this sentence. Modifiers describe, specify, or limit the meanings of other words. Position a modifier to make it clear what it modifies. To become a good photographer, the camera must be used carefully. This assessment includes 7 sections and tests students knowledge of modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers.
When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Grammar and mechanics using adjectives and adverbs. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so that you can fit the test to meet the. The following glossary includes all the technical grammatical terms used in the. The adverb carefully is the modifier in this exampleit modifies the verb proofread, giving important details about how the proofreading was conducted. For additional exercises based on chart 141, see workbook practices 16. Nouns can sometimes be used as adjectives if a noun is modifying. Dangling and misplaced modifiers microsoft style guide. Typically a predicate is everything in the clause except the subject. Place modifiers as close to the modified word as possible. In this sentence, cute is an adjective modifying the noun, baby. Every verb has two participle forms, the present and the past.
Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes blurred. Adjectives and adverbs are words that modify or qualify the meanings of other words. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another word, phrase, or clause. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections.
Add er after most of the one syllable modifiers and after certain twosyllable modifiers. Misplaced and dangling modifiers exercise 3 author. Adverbs are modifiers of verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or sentences. Consult the answer bank only after you have completed all questions. These words do an excellent job of saying just what we want to say. The adverb regularly is used to show how often they visit their parents. Tenminute grammar is a comprehensive grammar curriculum based on the common core standards for seventhgrade, eighthgrade, or ninthgrade students. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies or describes. Click the edit button on the topleft corner of the window to enable editing mode. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. With spellchecking enabled, you can now go back to your document and do a grammar check in the pdf file. They make your descriptions more accurate and engaging, and they help hold the readers attention. This movie is a lot more interesting than that movie 7.
B1 nominal and modifiers workbook unlimited trader. Give students a few base words and ask them to make a list of phrases that have a noun modifying a noun. Ironically, another word often acts as a modifier of nouns. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifiesthat is, gives information aboutanother word in the same sentence. To use the choices worksheet, have each student pick an activity that interests him. A modifier can be an adjective a word that modifies a noun, like burger, but it can also be an adverb a word that modifies a verb. Here are some other expressions we can use to say how often.
Collection of some persons or things and represented as a singular. Resources for more information on dangling modifiers and other grammar issues, you can consult these resources. Opening the file, the detective took out a newspaper cutting. Collection of some persons or things and represented as a singular noun. Jul 18, 2016 some adjectives and adverbs express qualities which are gradable. When they are out of place, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Remember from the nouns lesson, the three articles a, an, and the are adjectives. Noun acting as an adjective ironically, another word often acts as a modifier of nouns. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of modifiers, but. Oneword modifiers lla 11b adjectives make the meanings of nouns and pronouns more specific. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing.
A modifier changes, clarifies, qualifies, or limits a particular word in a sentence in order to add emphasis, explanation, or detail. The two kinds of modifiers are adjectives and adverbs. In english grammar, a resumptive modifier is a modifier that repeats a key word usually at or near the end of a main clause and then adds informative or descriptive details related to that word. There are exceptions, of course, one of which is sports in a sports car,a sports jacket, etc. We do not have to say, we will watch the game of football. Adjectives tell us which one, what kind of, or how many and usually.
Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, but they are found at the end of sentences too. May be freely copied for personal or classroom use. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. You may reuse this information excluding logos free of charge in any format or. Modifiers adjectives anger be now your song, immortal one, akhilleus anger, doomed and ruinous, that caused the akhaians loss on bitter loss and crowded brave souls into the undergloom, leaving so many dead men carrion for dogs and birds. A modifier can be an adverb, an adverb clause, an adjective or an adjective clause that changes a word in a sentence to make it more descriptive. Learning about modifiers, especially if you are out of. Most of the grammar and vocabulary explanations are accompanied with exercises, in order to help you put what you learn in practice.
Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a complex and confusing task which can often end in frustration. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes something or makes its meaning more specific. Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of modifiers, but there are others. Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, desmond saw moms pristine birthday.
Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier. Modifiers bring energy to your writing by providing additional details about whats being discussed. Modifiers should be placed as near as possible to the words they modify. These days, however, many writers overdo it and come up with long chains. Modifier in english grammar with examples pdf parts of. When a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it a misplaced modifier. Using only the first ten minutes of each day, this unit helps students learn by discovery to use modifier phrases to improve their writing while avoiding sentence fragments and misplaced or. Both function as adjectives, modifying nouns and pronouns. List of articles in category exercise 12 modifiers. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice. There are two types of participlespresent participles and past participlesboth of which express action or a state of being. Comparative modifiers are used t o compare one thing to another. The present participle consists of the plain form of the verb combined with the ending ing, such as in breaking news. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence.
1532 456 770 1528 941 1444 271 1378 307 600 377 407 177 806 1579 1258 273 136 129 412 140 478 742 827 727 655 502 882