English Modifiers PDF

# Modifiers - An element of a sentence that describes or qualifies some other element. - Adjectives & Adverbs (most common) - Phrase / Dependent Clause are also used as modifiers. ## Categories of Modifiers ### Dependent vs Independent - Subordinating conjunctions - Everything but FANBOYS ### Adje...

# Modifiers - An element of a sentence that describes or qualifies some other element. - Adjectives & Adverbs (most common) - Phrase / Dependent Clause are also used as modifiers. ## Categories of Modifiers ### Dependent vs Independent - Subordinating conjunctions - Everything but FANBOYS ### Adjective - Two basic syntactic categories: - **Attributive:** The _black_ dog is barking. (adj. is w/ the subject) - **Predicative:** The dog was _black_. (connected through a linking verb) (is, are, was, were) ### Categories of Adjectives 1. **Proper Adjectives** - Used to describe something (with suffix) - Formed from proper nouns. - Ex: Shakespearean, Italian, Middle Eastern 2. **Compound Adjectives** - Two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun - Ex: last-minute, top-right, sugar-free ## Demonstrative Adjectives (Demonstrative Determiners) - Used to specify what we are referring to. - Give more info about its proximity to the speaker, whether it is singular or plural: - This, that, these, those - If it's near the speaker (describes the quantity, or the position of the speaker) ## Interrogative Adjectives - Wh questions - How ## Nominal Adjectives - Adjectives that function as the subject / object of the sentence. - Ex: The best, the strongest, the blue. ## Collective Adjectives - Subgroup of nominal - Refers to a group w/ shared characteristics. ## Adjective Phrases - Adjective + additional info linked together to describe a noun / pronoun. - Ex: That was a very interesting movie. He is extremely talented at playing the piano. The test was quite difficult. ## Adjective Clause - Dependent clauses that give descriptive information about a noun / noun phrase. - Introduced by relative pronouns / relative adverbs (what, which, who) - 1. There's the woman who always sits next to me on the bus. - 2. The book that I wrote is being published this January. - 3. The house where I was born is a very special place. ## Adverbs - A word that modifies / describes a verb, adjective, other adverb, or an entire clause. - Ex: You write beautifully. He owns the bright red car. She ran very quickly to the bus. She looked excited, as if she could jump up and down at any moment. ## Categories of Adverbs - **Adverbs of Time:** We are eating _now_. - **Adverbs of Frequency:** I _rarely_ eat breakfast. - **Adverbs of Place:** I absolutely hate running _uphill_. ## Adverbs of Manner - Modifies verbs. He writes _slowly_. ## Adverbs of Degree - I'm _fairly_ certain this is correct. - Undoubtably, truly, very, quite, pretty, somewhat fairly ## Adverbs of Purpose - Therefore, thus, consequently, hence. - Ex: You must _therefore_ conclude that... ## Focusing Adverbs - Also, exclusively, just, mostly, notably, primarily. ## Negative Adverbs - No, nor, hardly, barely, never, seldom. ## Conjunctive Adverbs - However, moreover, comparatively, also, therefore. ## Evaluative Adverbs - Apparently, clearly, astonishingly, frankly, obviously. ## Viewpoint Adverbs - Personally, in my opinion, according to you, scientifically biologically, imo. ## Relative Adverbs - Where, when, why. ## Adverbial Nouns - Tomorrow, an hour, an ounce, five dollars, 25 years. - Nouns that serve as adverbs ## Adverbial Phrases - A group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence. - Ex: We were playing Frisbee at the park. Patricia went to the mountains to go for a hike. He performed very well on his exam. ## Adverbial Clause - Subject + Predicate are present. - Ex: I will arrive when dinner is ready. Peter brings his sunglasses. ## 3 Types of Adverbial Functions 1. **Adjunct:** - How, when, where, why, how often. 2. **Disjunct:** - Prepositional & adverbial phrases (attitude). 3. **Conjunct:** - Conjunctive adverbs, textual connectors. - Logical connectors to show sequence, contrasts, etc. - Moreover, Furthermore, nonetheless. ## Disjunct - Sentence adverb. - Stupidly, frankly, certainly. ## Common Modifier Mistakes ### Dangling - A sentence consists of a phrase that says something about a following clause - But the subject of that clause is not what it's supposed to be. - **Wrong:** Just 2 years after finishing college, career took off. - **Right:** Just 2 years after finishing college, his career took off. ### Misplaced - Acts on something other than what the writer intended. - Modifier is in the wrong position. - **Ex:** "Blue car" next to co. ### Squinting - The placement of the modifier is confusing.