all about modifiers

1. Structure of
Modification

2. Structure of modification
is made up of the head
and the modifier.
structure of modification
= head + modifier

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The head is the word being modified; it can be a noun, a
verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
The modifier can be a word, a phrase, or a clause that
describes, qualifies, limits, or alters the meaning of
another word or group of words in a sentence. It can
function as an adjective modifying a noun or a pronoun, or
an adverb modifying a verb, an adjective, or another
adverb.

4. EXAMPLE:
• The irritated janitress
dragged the poor woman
harshly out of the comfort room.

5. Single-Word Modifier
Patterns

6. Noun + Noun
• Uncle Sam went to the
bookstore today.
• The man’s bag was stolen by
the stranger.
• We still have to drop by the
gas station tomorrow.
Adjective + Noun
• I made the elegant dress
that she is wearing.
Verb + Noun
• I still have a cake to bake
tonight.
• I threw the broken glass into
the bin.
Adverb + Verb
• Jeofrey brutally killed the
dog that bit him.
Adverb + Adjective
• When I saw him yesterday, he
was absolutely depressed.

7. Qualifier + Adjective
• The flowers he bought were
pretty expensive
Verbal + Adjective
• The temperature was freezing
cold yesterday.
Adjective + Infinitive
• We can’t afford to lose this as
it is difficult to reconstruct.
Adjective + Adjective
• The orange juice you gave me
was icy cold.
Qualifier + Adverb
• My father hit my brother very
badly.
Adverb + Adverb
• The students see the problem
totally differently from one
another.

8. Modifying
Phrases

9. Phrases modifiers are groups of
two or more words that do not have
a subject and a verb, which are
used as modifiers in sentences.
They can function as adjectives or
adverbs.

10. Types of Phrase
Modifiers

11. Prepositional phrase is a group of words
made up of a preposition and its object,
which can be a noun or a pronoun. It can be
used as a modifier in a sentence.
a. Adjective Phrase
The books on the table are mine.
b. Adverb Phrase
Please put all of your gadgets inside the cabinet.

12. Participial phrase can be used as a modifier in
sentences. It is made up of a participle and its
modifiers, complements, or objects. A participle
is a verbal; it functions as an adjective in a
sentence. It can be a present participle or a
past participle.
• People planning to illegally cut trees
must be apprehended.
• Stuck in traffic, we wished we had
stayed at the hotel.

13. Infinitive phrase can be used as a modifier in
sentences. It is composed of an infinitive and
its complements or modifiers. An infinitive is a
verbal; it can function as an adjective or an
adverb when used as a modifier.
• I told my sister to go home right after
class.
• My family wants to visit our relatives
in the province.

14. Absolute phrase is a group of words that does
not modify a particular word in a sentence;
instead, it modifies the main clause of a
sentence. This type of phrase comes with a
subject but no finite verb, and it is usually set
off from the rest of the sentence with commas.
• His face covered with mud, Jonathan
reached the finish line with his partner.

15. Tips in Using
Phrase
Modifiers

16. 04
03
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Master the functions of adverbs
and adjectives.
Infinitive phrase is different from
prepositional phrase.
• Infinitive Phrase: Shane took the
junks outside to sell them.
• Prepositional Phrase: Karen
delivered the eggs to our house
yesterday.
Verb phrase is different from
participial phrase.
• Verb Phrase: Jacob was running for
the bus.
• Participial Phrase: We saw Jacob
running for the bus.
Preposition is different from
adverb.
• Preposition : T h e p o l i c e
officers rushed inside our
house to apprehend the culprit.
• Adverb: We need to put all
the stuffed toys inside.

17. Modifying
Clauses

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Two Types of Clause Modifiers
Adjective clause provides more detail to a
sentence by modifying a noun or a pronoun. It
answers the questions “What kind?” or “Which
one?”
• I can still remember the time when we were
still together.
• The new teacher, who my classmates like very
much, is my neighbor.
Clause modifier is a group of
words with both a subject and a
verb that can be used as a
modifier in a sentence.

19. Essential and Non-Essential Adjective
Clauses
• I can still remember the time when we
were still together.
• The new teacher, who my classmates
like very much, is my neighbor.
An adjective clause is introduced by a
relative pronoun or a relative adverb.

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Adverb clause modifies verbs, adjectives,
adverbs, or verbals (gerunds, infinitives,
and participles) in a sentence. It is
i n t r o d u c e d b y a s u b o r d i n a t i n g
conjunction.
Examples:
• Unless you take the train, you will miss your flight
tonight.
• My brother, when he is irritated, locks himself in
his room.
• Jeremy’s presentation was the best because it was
interactive.

22. The Importance of
Proper Placement of
Modifiers in
Sentences
T H A N k S

23. Three Types of Faulty
Modifiers Placement
1. misplaced modifier
2. dangling modifier
3. squinting modifier
A modifier should be
placed right next to or
near the word that it
modifies.
• The storm only
destroyed five houses.
• The only storm
destroyed five houses.

24. 2. When the word being modified is not
stated in the sentence, the modifier is
considered a dangling modifier.
• Incorrect: Being late for the exam, an
excuse letter was required.
• Correct: Being late for the exam,
Douglas was required to write an excuse
letter.
3. When a modifier is placed in a sentence in
such a way that it could feasibly modify the
words before it or the words after it, it is called a
squinting modifier. A squinting modifier is a
type of misplaced modifier.
• Incorrect: The mall that we visited recently
went bankrupt.
• Correct: The mall that we recently visited went
bankrupt.
• Correct: The mall that we visited went
bankrupt recently.
1. Misplaced modifier is a modifier that is
positioned too far from the word that it
modifies.
• Incorrect: My father sold our SUV to my
uncle with leather seats.
• Correct: My father sold our SUV with
leather seats to my uncle.

25. THANK YOU
T H A N k S

26. Underline the head and its modifier in each sentence
below.
1. Jason entered the classroom nonchalantly.
2. The task was difficult to accomplish.
3. The situation you are in is absolutely dangerous.
4. Jennifer immediately returned the box to the owner.
5. The inspecting officer gave orders to his members.

27. Underline and identify the phrase modifier in the sentences below.
1. We saw a beautiful lady near the fast-flowing river yesterday.
2. Exercising for several hours in the gym, Jonas almost passed out.
3. The teacher instructed the students to wrap things up.
4. His voice echoing in the hall, Jerry caught the attention of the
principal.
5. The illegal immigrants pass through this tunnel.

28. Identify whether the error in the sentence is misplaced, dangling, or
squinting modifier.
1. To improve the quality of his results, the experiment was done again.
2. My fiance and I bought a cake in the bakeshop decorated with icing.
3. Hoping to feel better, the medicine prescribed by the doctor was taken.
4. The mayor promised after his reelection to increase the salary of the
municipal employees.
5. They found a large spoon inside their car made of wood.

29. Revise the following sentences by placing the modifier in its proper
position.
1. Gina received her exam result with ear-to-ear grin this morning.
2. After the heavy rain, Joshua carried his shoes while heading home
covered with mud.
3. Sneezing from the very cold weather, a thick and warm jacket would be
handy.
4. Catherine regretted that she took her pet outside in high heels.
5. Josephine served a grilled beef to the customer that was well cooked.