Modifiers

** A modifier answers the question When? where/or how?

Modifiers: Words or Phrases which precede a noun or follow a noun are called modifiers.

Modifiers are of two types: Pre-modifier and post- modifier.

Pre-modifier: A modifier which precedes a noun is called Pre-modifier. For example: A blooming flower, A broken chair.

Here the words, blooming and broken are used as pre-modifiers.

Uses of Pre-modifiers

# Determiners (article& demonstratives):1. The boys and girls are walking side by side. Those boys and girls are very
intelligent.

#Adjectives as pre-modifiers: A lazy man can not be an early riser. Rakib is an intelligent boy. Here the adjectives (lazy
and intelligent ) modify the nouns(man and boy).

#participle( present and past participle) as pre-modifiers: I saw a flying bird.A burnt child dreads the fire.

# Quantifiers: We use quantifiers when we want to give someone information about the number of
something: how much or how many.
A quantifier is a word or phrase which is used before a noun to indicate the amount or quantity:
‘Some’, ‘many’, ‘a lot of’ and ‘a few’ are examples of the quantifier.
#Intensifiers: Intensifiers are adverbs or adverbial phrases that usually describe things which are extreme,
highly dramatic, forceful and enhance the meaning of the word or phrase.
We use words like very, really and extremely, actually, certainly, surely,definitely,
absolutely ,much,fully,to make adjectives stronger:
example: It's a very interesting story.
Everyone was very excited.
It's a really interesting story.
Everyone was extremely furious.
possessives :(my,your,our,his,her,their,its)
Appositive: An appositive can be a single word or a phrase that gives additional information about a noun or
pronoun. For example: Karim , one of my college friends is a brilliant student.
Adverb & Adverbials : An adverb is a word which modifies any parts of speech except (a
noun/pronoun)or a whole sentence.
Adverbials are words that we use to give more information about a verb. They can be one word (angrily, here)
or phrases (at home, in a few hours) and often say how, where, when or how often something happens or is
done. We normally put adverbials after the verb:
He spoke angrily.(here angrily modifies the verb spoke).
He quietly opened the door.
They live just here.
We will go in a few minutes (adverbials)
Uses of Post-modifiers
#participle phrase as post-modifiers: #I saw the boy crying .( present participle)
#The Students saw their teachers coming into the class. ( Present participle phrase).

# I have got the letter sent by my mother. ( Past participle phrase).

#Infinitive and infinitive phrase as post-modifier: Iam the last man to leave.(infinitive), Iam the last man to leave the
place.(infinitive phrase).
 *** Some common rules for the exam
1.*.Pre-modify the noun (with an adjective/ with a demonstrative/with a possessive/with a noun –adjective/with a
quantifier/past participle ).Examples:

1.Karim is a brilliant student. 2. I like these mangoes. 3. There is a famous school in our village.4.I like to watch a horse
race on youtube. 5.Nowadays many people like to travel .Polluted water is very harmful for health. Food adulteration is
increasing day by day.

2.*pre-modify the verb with an adverb-example: He always speaks the truth. He has already done the work.

3.*post-modify the verb with an adverbial : The boy runs in the field/very slowly.

4.*Post-modify the verb with an infinitive/infinitive phrase: we go to a Language club to learn English language.

5.*Use of Gerund: Walking is a good exercise .Reading books is a good habit. I like swimming .

6.*post-modify the verb with a present participle phrase: People pollute water throwing waste into it.

7.* Pre-modify the adjective/adverb with an intensifier: Polluted water is very harmful .He runs very fast.

Prepared By Nazmul Hasan Nazrul ,B.A.(hons),University of Chittagong. mobile:01874870938