1. Understanding Modifiers
What are modifiers?
Adjectives and adverbs
Phrases
Clauses
Uses of modifiers
Troublesome modifiers
Bad/Badly
Good/Well
Review A
Review B

2. What are modifiers?
You’ve found a dog with no tags, so you call the animal shelter.
I have found a dog.
When did you find it?
Where did you find it?
What does it look like?
To help you find the owners, the shelter staff needs to know more about the dog.

3. What are modifiers?
A modifier is a word or word group that makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific.
Where did you find it?
What does it look like?
When did you find it?
I found a large, brown dog near the library yesterday.
I found a large, brown dog near the library.
I found a large, brown dog.

4. What are modifiers? Some modifiers are one-word modifiers.
Adjectives
Some modifiers are one-word modifiers.
An adjective is a word that makes the meaning of a noun or pronoun more specific.
Noun
They play in the park.
Adjective
They play in the spacious park.
They play in the green park.

5. What are modifiers?
Adjectives
An adjective tells what kind, which one, or how many.
smooth rocks
rocks
What kind?
this mug
mug
Which one?
cubes
How many?
five cubes

6. What are modifiers?
Adverbs
An adverb is a word that makes the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb more specific.
Verb
The water flows.
Adverb
The water flows gently.
The water flows rapidly.

7. What are modifiers?
Adverbs
An adverb is a word that makes the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb more specific.
Adverb
Adjective
We have had an extremely hot summer.
Adverb
Adverb
They entered the house rather quietly.

8. What are modifiers?
Adverbs
An adverb tells where, when, how, or to what extent (how much, how long, or how often).
Verb
The artist painted.
Where?
The artist painted here.
When?
The artist painted today.
How?
The artist painted beautifully.
To what extent?
The artist often painted.

9. What are modifiers? Many adverbs end in –ly. She speaks clearly.
Adjective or adverb?
Many adverbs end in –ly.
She speaks clearly.
It stopped suddenly.
However, some modifiers ending in –ly are used as adjectives.
the monthly budget
a lively discussion
And some adverbs do not end in –ly.
He always works hard.
We arrived early.

10. Adjectives and adverbs
What are modifiers?
Adjectives and adverbs
On Your Own
Identify the boldfaced modifier as an adjective (ADJ) or an adverb (ADV), and tell which word it modifies.
____ 1. The chipmunk disappeared quickly behind the rock.
____ 2. Ty ran a fast race but finished third.
____ 3. The wildflowers bloomed late this year.
____ 4. The bus came to an abrupt stop.
____ 5. That maze was quite complex.
[End of Section]

11. What are modifiers?
Phrases
Some modifiers are word groups. For example, phrases can be used as adjectives or adverbs.
A prepositional phrase can be used as an adjective or an adverb.
Prepositional phrase
The day of our class field trip was memorable.
Noun
Prepositional phrase
We rode the bus to the aquarium.
Verb

12. What are modifiers? A participial phrase can be used as an adjective.
Phrases
A participial phrase can be used as an adjective.
Participial phrase
Excited about the trip, the campers boarded the bus.
Noun
Participial phrase
The man leading the hike made a wrong turn.
Noun

13. What are modifiers?
Phrases
An infinitive phrase can be used as an adverb or as an adjective.
Infinitive phrase
She traveled to Alaska to see the wildlife.
Verb
Infinitive phrase
The person to carry the flag will be Keri.
Noun

14. What are modifiers?
Phrases
On Your Own
Tell whether the boldfaced phrase is used as an adjective (ADJ) or as an adverb (ADV). Also, identify the word or words the phrase modifies.
____ 1. With a grin, Henry shook the mayor’s hand.
____ 2. This time of the year is my favorite.
____ 3. To make the circle, I need a compass.
____ 4. Exhausted from the climb, the hikers took a rest.
[End of Section]

15. What are modifiers?
Clauses
Like words and phrases, clauses can also be used as adjectives and adverbs.
An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.
Adjective clause
Rick, who plays guard, scored nine points.
Noun
Adjective clause
Look at the poster that I bought.
Noun

16. What are modifiers?
Clauses
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Usually, an adverb clause tells something about the action of the verb.
I eat breakfast
before I take my shower.
if I have enough time.
as though I haven’t eaten in days.
because it is the most important meal.
Verb
When?
Why?
How?
Under what condition?

17. What are modifiers?
Clauses
On Your Own
Tell whether the boldfaced clause is used as an adjective (ADJ) or as an adverb (ADV). Also, identify the word or words the clause modifies.
____ 1. Dad, who is an excellent cook, has made grilled chicken for dinner.
____ 2. As soon as I entered the room, I saw Lisa.
____ 3. My friend won a scholarship that will help pay for college.
____ 4. I read one chapter before I fell asleep.
[End of Section]

18. Uses of modifiers
Modifiers with linking verbs
Use an adjective to modify the subject of a linking verb.
Her heartbeat has become rapid.
Linking verb
The baby seems rather fussy today.
Linking verb

19. Uses of modifiers Modifiers with action verbs
Use an adverb to modify an action verb.
Her heart was beating rapidly.
Action verb
The baby cried loudly when he woke up.
Action verb

20. The adverb happily is used to modify the action verb looked.
Uses of modifiers
Some verbs may be used as linking verbs or as action verbs.
The adjective happy is used after the linking verb looked to modify the subject Kim.
Kim looked happy.
Linking verb
The adverb happily is used to modify the action verb looked.
Kim looked happily at the cat.
Action verb

21. Uses of modifiers
On Your Own
Most of the following sentences contain errors in the use of modifiers. If a sentence contains an error, correct it. If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. The principal’s office smelled stuffily yesterday.
2. Dawn works out with weights regular.
3. With the proper care, these flowers will grow rapidly.
4. My sister dances beautiful and can sing too.
[End of Section]

22. Troublesome modifiers
Bad/Badly
Bad is an adjective.
Tells what kind of weather
The weather is bad today.
Noun
Badly is an adverb.
Tells to what extent my arm was hurt
I hurt my arm badly.
Verb

23. Troublesome modifiers
Bad/Badly
Make sure to use the adjective form, bad, after a sense verb such as feel, look, sound, taste, or smell, or other linking verb.
Nonstandard
Standard
This leftover chicken smells bad.
This leftover chicken smells badly.
Nonstandard
Standard
The engine sounds bad to me.
The engine sounds badly to me.

24. Troublesome modifiers
Good/Well
Good is an adjective.
Kevin is a good driver.
The soup smells good.
Noun
Noun
Do not use good to modify a verb. Instead, use the adverb well, which means “capably.”
Nonstandard
Standard
The track team did well at the meet.
The track team did good at the meet.
Verb

25. Troublesome modifiers
Good/Well
Well can also be used as an adjective meaning “healthy.”
Chris was sick yesterday, but she is well now.
Pronoun

26. Troublesome modifiers
Good/Well
Notice that feel well and feel good mean different things:
I feel good when I succeed.
happy, pleased
Rene left school because she didn’t feel well.
healthy

27. Troublesome modifiers
On Your Own
Most of the following sentences contain errors in the use of modifiers. If a sentence contains an error, correct it. If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Our car drives bad ever since the accident.
2. Janine did good at the marathon.
3. I feel good about our chances in the tournament.
4. The burnt toast smelled badly.
[End of Section]

28. Review A
Tell whether the italicized modifier is used as an adjective (ADJ) or an adverb (ADV), and tell which word it modifies.
____ 1. After we ate, I offered to wash the dishes.
____ 2. The judge remained silent for a long time.
____ 3. The bus, which had a flat tire, was late.
____ 4. We walked to the hobby store together.
____ 5. Hiding behind the couch, the cat waited to pounce.

29. Review B
If a sentence contains an error in the use of a modifier, correct it. If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Julio was smiling proud when he told us the story.
2. His model engine ran good at first.
3. Helena stayed home from school because she wasn’t feeling good.
4. Over time, the puppies grew bold.
5. He played the trumpet bad at first, but he soon improved.
[End of Section]

30. The End