ModifiersModifiers

A modifier is a word or word group that A modifier is a word or word group that makes the meaning of another word or makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific. The two kinds word group more specific. The two kinds of modifiers are of modifiers are adjectivesadjectives and and adverbsadverbs. .

Adjectives…Adjectives…

Modify nouns or pronounsModify nouns or pronouns Which one? The lonely cat wandered Which one? The lonely cat wandered

around.around. What kind? The American flag is flying What kind? The American flag is flying

high.high. How many? She wears three rings on her How many? She wears three rings on her

left hand.left hand.

AdverbsAdverbs

Can modify verbs, adverbs, and Can modify verbs, adverbs, and adjectivesadjectives

How? The car goes fast.How? The car goes fast. When? We will go tomorrow.When? We will go tomorrow. Where? The book is there.Where? The book is there. To What Extent? She is very unhappy.To What Extent? She is very unhappy.

Bad and BadlyBad and Badly

BadBad is an adjective. In most uses, is an adjective. In most uses, badlybadly is an adverb.is an adverb. The dog was bad.The dog was bad. The dog behaved badly.The dog behaved badly.

**Remember that a word that modifies the **Remember that a word that modifies the subject of a verb should be in adjective form.subject of a verb should be in adjective form.

NONSTANDARD: The stew tasted badly.NONSTANDARD: The stew tasted badly.STANDARD: The stew tasted bad.STANDARD: The stew tasted bad.

Good and WellGood and Well

GoodGood is an adjective. It should not be is an adjective. It should not be used to modify a verb.used to modify a verb.

WellWell may be used either as an adjective may be used either as an adjective or as an adverb. As an adjective, or as an adverb. As an adjective, wellwell has two meanings: “in good health” and has two meanings: “in good health” and “satisfactory.”“satisfactory.”

Good and WellGood and Well

NONSTANDARD: He speaks Italian NONSTANDARD: He speaks Italian good.good.

STANDARD: He speaks Italian well.STANDARD: He speaks Italian well. STANDARD: His Italian sounds good. STANDARD: His Italian sounds good.

((GoodGood is an adjective that modified the is an adjective that modified the noun noun ItalianItalian.).)

John is well. (John is in good health.)John is well. (John is in good health.) All is well. (All is satisfactory.)All is well. (All is satisfactory.) They did well in the tryouts.They did well in the tryouts.

Slow and SlowlySlow and Slowly

SlowSlow is used as both an adjective and an is used as both an adjective and an adverb. adverb. SlowlySlowly is an adverb. In most is an adverb. In most adverb uses, it is better to use adverb uses, it is better to use slowlyslowly than to use than to use slowslow..

We took a slow drive through the We took a slow drive through the countryside. (modifies drive)countryside. (modifies drive)

The train slowly came to a stop. (modifies The train slowly came to a stop. (modifies how the train stopped)how the train stopped)

Real and ReallyReal and Really

Real is an adjective meaning “actual” or Real is an adjective meaning “actual” or “genuine.” Really is an adverb meaning “genuine.” Really is an adverb meaning “actually” or “Truly.” Although real is commonly “actually” or “Truly.” Although real is commonly used as an adverb meaning “very” in everyday used as an adverb meaning “very” in everyday situations, avoid using it in formal speaking and situations, avoid using it in formal speaking and writing.writing.

Formal: He batted really well in the game.Formal: He batted really well in the game. Informal: He batted real well in the game.Informal: He batted real well in the game.

Correct? (textbook pg. Correct? (textbook pg. 576)576)

1.1. You have done very good today, Marcia.You have done very good today, Marcia.2.2. The nurse shark was moving very slow over the seabed.The nurse shark was moving very slow over the seabed.3.3. The fireworks exploded with a real loud bang.The fireworks exploded with a real loud bang.4.4. The team did not play badly, but they lost anyway.The team did not play badly, but they lost anyway.5.5. James thinks that Jakob Dylan is a well singer.James thinks that Jakob Dylan is a well singer.6.6. The box was not damaged too bad when it fell.The box was not damaged too bad when it fell.7.7. The turtle is very slowly on land, but it is much faster The turtle is very slowly on land, but it is much faster

underwater.underwater.8.8. Is that really Sammy Sosa’s autograph?Is that really Sammy Sosa’s autograph?9.9. Even if your day is going bad, getting angry at me will not help.Even if your day is going bad, getting angry at me will not help.10.10. Slowly but surely, the fawn improved until it could run real good.Slowly but surely, the fawn improved until it could run real good.

ComparisonsComparisons

Positive: good; young; fearfulPositive: good; young; fearful Comparative: better; younger; more Comparative: better; younger; more

fearfulfearful Superlative: best; youngest; most fearfulSuperlative: best; youngest; most fearful

Write the comparative and Write the comparative and superlative forms of the superlative forms of the following words.following words.

1.1. FastFast2.2. HappyHappy3.3. SimpleSimple4.4. SafeSafe5.5. CalmCalm6.6. SoonSoon7.7. CarefulCareful8.8. HazyHazy9.9. WiselyWisely10.10. PrettyPretty

Positive: helpfulPositive: helpful Comparative: less helpfulComparative: less helpful Superlative: least helpfulSuperlative: least helpful

Irregular ComparisonsIrregular Comparisons

Positive: bad; good/well; many/muchPositive: bad; good/well; many/much Comparative: worse; better; moreComparative: worse; better; more Superlative: worst; best; mostSuperlative: worst; best; most

Misplaced modifiersMisplaced modifiers

Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that are positioned Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that are positioned so that they appear to modify the wrong thing.so that they appear to modify the wrong thing.

In general, you should place single-word modifiers near In general, you should place single-word modifiers near the word or words they modify, especially when a the word or words they modify, especially when a reader might think that they modify something different reader might think that they modify something different in the sentence. Consider the following sentence:in the sentence. Consider the following sentence:

[WRONG] After our conversation lessons, we could [WRONG] After our conversation lessons, we could understand the Spanish spoken by our visitors from understand the Spanish spoken by our visitors from Madrid Madrid easilyeasily. .

Do we Do we understandunderstand the Spanish easily, or do the visitors the Spanish easily, or do the visitors speakspeak it easily? This revision eliminates the confusion: it easily? This revision eliminates the confusion:

[RIGHT] We could [RIGHT] We could easilyeasily understand the Spanish understand the Spanish spoken by our visitors from Madrid. spoken by our visitors from Madrid.

Dangling ModifiersDangling Modifiers

The The dangling modifierdangling modifier is often (though is often (though not always) located at the beginning of a not always) located at the beginning of a sentence. A dangling modifier is usually a sentence. A dangling modifier is usually a phrase that functions as an phrase that functions as an adjectiveadjective but but does not modify any specific word in the does not modify any specific word in the sentence, or (worse) modifies the sentence, or (worse) modifies the wrongwrong word. Consider the following example:word. Consider the following example:

Raised in Nova ScotiaRaised in Nova Scotia, it is natural to , it is natural to miss the smell of the sea. miss the smell of the sea.

The introductory phrase in the above sentence looks as if it is The introductory phrase in the above sentence looks as if it is meant to modify a person or persons, but no one is mentioned in meant to modify a person or persons, but no one is mentioned in the sentence. Such introductory the sentence. Such introductory adjective phrasesadjective phrases, because of , because of their position, automatically modify the first their position, automatically modify the first nounnoun or or pronounpronoun that that follows the phrase -- in this case, "it." The connection in this case follows the phrase -- in this case, "it." The connection in this case is illogical because "it" was not raised in Nova Scotia. You could is illogical because "it" was not raised in Nova Scotia. You could revise the sentence in a number of ways:revise the sentence in a number of ways:

For a person raised in Nova ScotiaFor a person raised in Nova Scotia, it is natural to miss the , it is natural to miss the smell of the sea. (the phrase no longer functions as an adjective) smell of the sea. (the phrase no longer functions as an adjective)

Raised in Nova Scotia, Raised in Nova Scotia, II often miss the smell of the sea. (the often miss the smell of the sea. (the phrase functions as an adjective but now automatically modifies phrase functions as an adjective but now automatically modifies "I," a logical connection) "I," a logical connection)