Modifiers

WHAT IS A MODIFIER? A modifier is a word or word group that makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific. There are two kinds of modifiers – adjective and adverb Adjectives make the meanings of nouns and pronouns more specific Example: Ella has a mischievous smile. Adverbs make the meanings of verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs more specific Example: Ella smiled mischievously. Note: If a word in the predicate modifies the subject of the verb, use the adjective form. If the word modifies the verb, use the adverb form

8 TROUBLESOME MODIFIERS Bad and Badly Bad is an adjective (“He is a bad dancer.” Badly is an adverb (“He behaved badly”) Good and Well Good is an adjective (“He is a good dancer” Well can be adjective or adverb – adjective means “in good health” or “satisfactory”; adverb means “capably” (“He did well on the test” or “I am well, thanks” Slow and Slowly Slow can be adjective or adverb (“We took a slow train” or “The train will go slow today”) Slowly is always an adverb (“The train slowly came to a stop.”) In formal uses, ALWAYS use slowly as adverb Real and Really Real is an adjective – it means “actual” or “genuine” (“He is a real mountain climber”) Really is an adverb – it means “actually” or truly” (“They really need help”

Comparison of Modifiers Regular Comparison: Increase Positive Comparative: add –er; or use more Superlative: add –est ; or use most Regular Comparison: Decrease Comparative: use less Superlative: use least Irregular Comparison: Positive: bad; good; little; many; far Comparative: worse; better; less; more; farther Superlative: worst; best; least; most; farthest (or furtherest)

Dangling Modifiers A dangling modifier appears to modify the wrong word or no word at all because the word it should logically modify is missing To correct it, change the dangling modifier phrase to a subordinate (dependent) clause, creating a subject and verb; leave the rest of the sentence as it is Incorrect: Having been fixed the night before, Paul could use the car. Correct: Since the mechanic fixed the car the night before, Paul could use it.

Misplaced Modifiers A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies/describes; because of the separation, the sentence will sound awkward, silly, or confusing. To correct it, put the modifier next to the noun it is supposed to modify Incorrect: Cara saw the tornado approaching through the bedroom window. Correct: Through the bedroom window, Cara saw the tornado approaching.