what are modifiers? adjectives and adverbs phrases clauses uses of modifiers troublesome modifiers
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Understanding Modifiers. What are modifiers? Adjectives and adverbs Phrases Clauses Uses of modifiers Troublesome modifiers Bad/Badly Good/Well Review A Review B. What are modifiers?. You’ve found a dog with no tags, so you call the animal shelter. I have found a dog. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What are modifiers?
Adjectives and adverbs
Phrases
Clauses
Uses of modifiers
Troublesome modifiers
Bad/Badly
Good/Well
Review A
Review B
Understanding Modifiers
To help you find the owners, the shelter staff needs to know more about the dog.
What does it look like?
What are modifiers?
You’ve found a dog with no tags, so you call the animal shelter.
I have found a dog.
Where did you find it?When did you find it?
I found a large, brown dog.
I found a large, brown dog near
the library yesterday.
I found a large, brown dog near
the library.
A modifier is a word or word group that makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific.
What are modifiers?
When did you find it?Where did you find it?What does it look like?
An adjective is a word that makes the meaning of a noun or pronoun more specific.
Some modifiers are one-word modifiers.
Noun
They play in the green park.Adjective
They play in the park.
They play in the spacious park.
What are modifiers?Adjectives
An adjective tells what kind, which one, or how many.
What are modifiers?Adjectives
What kind?rocks
Which one?mug
How many?cubes
smooth rocks
this mug
five cubes
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 rapidly.
Adverb
The water flows.
The water flows gently.
An adverb is a word that makes the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb more specific.
Adverb
What are modifiers?Adverbs
We have had an extremely hot summer.
Adjective
Adverb
They entered the house rather quietly.
Adverb
What are modifiers?Adverbs
An adverb tells where, when, how, or to what extent (how much, how long, or how often).
Where?
When?
How?
The artist painted here.
To what extent?
The artist painted today.
The artist painted beautifully.
The artist often painted.
The artist painted.
Verb
What are modifiers?Adjective or adverb?
Many adverbs end in –ly.
However, some modifiers ending in –ly are used as adjectives.
And some adverbs do not end in –ly.
the monthly budget
He always works hard.
a lively discussion
She speaks clearly. It stopped suddenly.
We arrived early.
[End of Section]
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.
On Your Own
What are modifiers?Adjectives and adverbs
• A prepositional phrase can be used as an adjective or an adverb.
What are modifiers?Phrases
Some modifiers are word groups. For example, phrases can be used as adjectives or adverbs.
The day of our class field trip was memorable.
Prepositional phrase
We rode the bus to the aquarium.
Prepositional phrase
Noun
Verb
What are modifiers?Phrases
A participial phrase can be used as an adjective.
The man leading the hike made a wrong turn.
Participial phrase
Excited about the trip, the campers boarded the bus.
Participial phrase
Noun
Noun
What are modifiers?Phrases
• An infinitive phrase can be used as an adverb or as an adjective.
She traveled to Alaska to see the wildlife.
The person to carry the flag will be Keri.
Infinitive phrase
Infinitive phrase
Verb
Noun
[End of Section]
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.
On Your Own
What are modifiers?Phrases
Like words and phrases, clauses can also be used as adjectives and adverbs.
What are modifiers?Clauses
Look at the poster that I bought.
Rick, who plays guard, scored nine points.
Adjective clause
Adjective clause
Noun
Noun
An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.
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.
What are modifiers?Clauses
I eat breakfastVerb
Why? How?When?
before I take my shower.
Under what condition?
because it is the most important meal.as though I haven’t eaten in days.if I have enough time.
[End of Section]
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.
On Your Own
What are modifiers?Clauses
Uses of modifiers
Modifiers with linking verbs
Use an adjective to modify the subject of a linking verb.
Her heartbeat has become rapid.
The baby seems rather fussy today.Linking verb
Linking verb
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
Uses of modifiers
Some verbs may be used as linking verbs or as action verbs.
Kim looked happy.Linking verb
Kim looked happily at the cat.
Action verb
The adjective happy is used after the linking verb looked to modify the subject Kim.
The adverb happily is used to modify the action verb looked.
[End of Section]
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.
On Your Own
Uses of modifiers
Troublesome modifiersBad/Badly
Bad is an adjective.
Badly is an adverb.
The weather is bad today.
Noun
I hurt my arm badly.Verb
Tells what kind of weather
Tells to what extent my arm was hurt
Make sure to use the adjective form, bad, after a sense verb such as feel, look, sound, taste, or smell, or other linking verb.
This leftover chicken smells badly.Nonstandard This leftover chicken smells bad.Standard
The engine sounds badly to me.Nonstandard The engine sounds bad to me.Standard
Troublesome modifiersBad/Badly
Troublesome modifiersGood/Well
Good is an adjective.
The soup smells good.Noun
Kevin is a good driver.Noun
Do not use good to modify a verb. Instead, use the adverb well, which means “capably.”
The track team did good at the meet.Nonstandard The track team did well at the meet.Standard
Verb
Troublesome modifiersGood/Well
Well can also be used as an adjective meaning “healthy.”
Chris was sick yesterday, but she is well now.
Pronoun
Rene left school because she didn’t feel well.
Troublesome modifiersGood/Well
Notice that feel well and feel good mean different things:
I feel good when I succeed.
happy, pleased
healthy
[End of Section]
On Your Own
Troublesome modifiers
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.
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.
Review B
[End of Section]
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.
The End