MODIFIERS

Definition: A word, phrase, or clause that

functions as an adjective or adverb to limit or qualify the meaning of another word or word group (called the head).

Modifiers that appear before the head are called premodifiers. Modifiers that appear after the head are called postmodifiers.

The Order of Adjectives in a Series1. Determiners — articles and other limiters. See Determiners 2. Observation — postdeterminers and limiter adjectives (e.g.,

a real hero, a perfect idiot) and adjectives subject to subjective measure (e.g., beautiful, interesting)

3. Size and Shape — adjectives subject to objective measure (e.g., wealthy, large, round)

4. Age — adjectives denoting age (e.g., young, old, new, ancient)

5. Color — adjectives denoting color (e.g., red, black, pale) 6. Origin — denominal adjectives denoting source of noun (e.g.,

French, American, Canadian) 7. Material — denominal adjectives denoting what something

is made of (e.g., woolen, metallic, wooden) 8. Qualifier — final limiter, often regarded as part of the noun

(e.g., rocking chair, hunting cabin, passenger car, book cover)

The Order of Adjectives in a Series

THE ROYAL ORDER OF ADJECTIVES

Determiner

Observation

Physical Description Origin Material Qualifier Noun

  Size Shape Age Color  

a beautiful     old   Italian   touring car

an expensive     antique     silver   mirror

four gorgeous  long-

stemmed  red   silk   roses

her     short   black       hair

our   big   old   English     sheepdog

those     square       wooden hat boxes

thatdilapidate

dlittle           hunting cabin

several   enormous   young   American   basketball players

some delicious         Thai     food

Order of AdverbsTHE ROYAL ORDER OF ADVERBS Verb Manner Place Frequency Time Purpose

Beth swimsenthusiastically

in the poolevery morning

before dawn

to keep in shape.

Dad walks impatiently into townevery afternoon

before supper

to get a newspaper.

Roger naps   in his roomevery morning

before lunch.

 

 

In actual practice, of course, it would be highly unusual to have a string of adverbial modifiers beyond two or three (at the most). Because the placement of adverbs is so flexible, one or two of the modifiers would probably move to the beginning of the sentence: "Every afternoon before supper, Dad impatiently walks into town to get a newspaper." When that happens, the introductory adverbial modifiers are usually set off with a comma.

As a general principle, shorter adverbial phrases precede longer adverbial phrases, regardless of content. In the following sentence, an adverb of time precedes an adverb of frequency because it is shorter (and simpler):

Dad takes a brisk walk before breakfast every day of his life.

A second principle: among similar adverbial phrases of kind (manner, place, frequency, etc.), the more specific adverbial phrase comes first:

My grandmother was born in a sod house on the plains of northern Nebraska.

She promised to meet him for lunch next Tuesday.

Introduction to Sentence Combining

SENTENCE COMBINING organizing sets of short, choppy

sentences into longer, more effective ones.

to develop more effective sentences--and to help you become a more versatile writer.

calls on you to experiment with different methods of putting words together.

there are countless ways to build sentences

consider different arrangements before you decide which one is the most effective.

Here are six basic qualities to consider when you evaluate your new sentences:

Meaning. As far as you can determine, have you conveyed the idea intended by the original author?

Clarity. Is the sentence clear? Can it be understood on the first reading?

Coherence. Do the various parts of the sentence fit together logically and smoothly?

Emphasis. Are key words and phrases put in emphatic positions (usually at the very end or at the very beginning of the sentence)?

Conciseness. Does the sentence clearly express an idea without wasting words?

Rhythm. Does the sentence flow, or is it marked by awkward interruptions? Do the interruptions help to emphasize key points (an effective technique), or do they merely distract (an ineffective technique)?

SENTENCE COMBINING She was our Latin teacher. We were in high school. She was tiny. She was a birdlike woman. She was swarthy. She had dark eyes. Her eyes were sparkling. Her hair was graying.

Our Latin teacher in high school was a birdlike woman, tiny and swarthy, with graying hair and dark, sparkling eyes.

Sentence Building With Adjectives and Adverbs

Willie had a beard and a moustache.The beard was bushy.The beard was long.The moustache was droopy.

Willie had a long, bushy beard and a droopy moustache.

The man handed me a photograph of a woman.He did this silently.The man was old.The woman was beautiful.

The man handed me a photograph of a woman.The photograph was torn.The photograph was faded.The woman was young.

Sentence Building with Prepositional Phrases

A mouse darted.It darted across the salad bar.It has a bell around its neck.

A mouse with a bell around its neck darted across the salad bar.

We traveled this summer.We traveled by train.We traveled from Biloxi.We traveled to Dubuque.

The convertible swerved, crashed, and caromed.It swerved off the road.It crashed through the guardrail.It caromed off a maple tree.

EXERCISE

1. The photograph brought back memories.The memories were brought back instantly.The memories were fine.The memories were old.

2. The photograph of the woman brought back memories.The memories were brought back instantly.The woman was beautiful.The woman was young.The photograph was torn.The photograph was faded.The memories were fine.The memories were old.

3. Mr. Elmo Norman was the principal.He was the principal of the school.It was my elementary school.

4. Mick planted seeds.He planted them in his garden.He did this after the quarrel.The quarrel was with Mr. Jimmy.

5. Grandpa dropped his teeth.His teeth were false.His teeth dropped into a glass.There was prune juice in the glass.