Modifier: Definition, Types, Examples

What is Modifier?

A modifier is a word/phrase/clause that modifies, qualifies, or limits a specific word in a sentence. Modifiers tend to be descriptive words that are used to put emphasis, explanation, or detail. In simple words, a modifier is an adverb or an adjective. The adverb modifies the verbs or adjectives and further the adjective modifies the nouns. 

Modifier

As suggested by many distinguished writers and professionals, modifiers are a great writing tool if used accurately at the right time. On the contrary, if any modifier is not used correctly or placed anywhere, it can distort the entire meaning and the form of the sentence. The above explanation is also valid for dangling modifiers and other unsettled modifiers.

Now let’s have a look at the following sentence to understand the concept of Modifier in an easy way:

  • Rita was a sure fit for the role of Juliette in the play.

We can rewrite the same sentence by adding multiple modifiers:

  • The famous girl named Rita, who was a finance & arts exchange student from London, quickly gained all the fame and popularity during her college year, with her acting and dancing talent. Therefore she was a sure fit for the role of Juliette in the play

The additional information in the above sentence, by way of modifiers, involves the reader and grabs their attention.

Examples of Modifiers Functioning as Adjectives

If any particular modifier is an adjective, it either modifies a noun or a pronoun value. (In the below references, the modifiers are marked in bold.)

Type of Modifier  Example
Single-word Adjectivesmall cat (In this example, “small” is a descriptive modifier.)
this house (In this example, “this” is a demonstrative determiner modifier.)
 an Indian(In this example, “an” is a definite article modifier.)
two flower (In this example, “two” is a quantifier modifier.)

The Single-word modifiers contain normal adjectives (for example, "small," "large," "pretty", “one”), determiners (“this”, “mine”, “that”) or articles (“a”, “an”, “the”).

Type of Modifier  Example
Adjectival PhraseI saw an enormously small bunny
A Rat is present in the corner of the house
one to remember
Looking over his glasses, Sir Thomas...

The Adjectival phrase modifiers represents a group of words regulated by an adjective (for example:, " an enormously small ," " very pretty," "that too classy") or various other multi-word adjective.

Examples of Modifiers Functioning as Adverbs

If any particular modifier is an adverb, it either modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. (In the below references, the modifiers are marked in bold.)

Type of ModifierExample
Adverbial PhraseSita danced beautifully.
I will leave today.
She cooks very well.
He did his homework super-fast.
Type of Modifier  Example
Adverbial PhraseSita danced beautifully.
I will leave today.
She cooks very well.
He did his homework super-fast.
Type of Modifier  Example
Adverbial PhraseAll his efforts went into vein.
Try to maintain the work pace
Think it very wisely.
He was looking at me very meticulously.

The adverbial phrases often modify the verbs present in a sentence. The commonly used formats for adverbial phrases are as follows:

  1. Prepositional adverbial phrases (for example: " into vein," "have failed")
  2. Infinitive adverbial phrases. (for example: , "to maintain the work pace," "to keep a steady speed of the work").
  3. An adverbial phrase an intensifier. (for example: " very wisely," "give it a proper thought ")
Type of Modifier  Example
Adverbial ClauseRam played the piano until the stars appear.
Think twice before you want to leave.
Himanshu thinks like a weasel.
He was looking at me very meticulously.

The Adverbial clause modifies the verb. The common properties of adverbial clauses are as follows:

  1. The adverbial clause modifiers always contain a subject and a verb. Therefore making it a clause instead of a phrase.
  2. The adverbial clause is a dependent clause modifier. Hence the writer cannot make a meaningful sentence only by using an adverbial clause.
  3. The adverbial clauses always begin with a subordinating conjunction (for example, "because," "so," "until, "until, ""like")

Types of Modifiers

Usually, there are two types of modifiers based on the position to word that is being modified.

1.       Post-modifiers

2.       Pre-modifiers

Post-modifiers:

Modifiers that are positioned after the word that is modified are Post-modifiers. Generally, the adverbs are placed after verbs, and they are modified. Though, certain adjectives are also placed next to the nouns and make them modified. The majority of the adverbs of place/direction, adverbs of time, and adverbs of manner are generally placed next to the modified verbs.

Infinitives (adverbs/adjectives), appositives, dependent clause, prepositional phrases (adjectives/adverbs), etc. are mostly placed afterward the nouns that are modified.

Example (In the below references, the modifiers are marked in bold.):

  1. James khan, a football player, has been fired from the team.

Pre-modifiers:

Modifiers that are positioned before the word that is modified are Pre-modifiers. Generally, the nouns are positioned after the adjectives. Therefore, the majority of the adjectives can be recognized as pre-modifiers. Adverbs are also frequently positioned before the words that are modified.

Descriptive adjectives, demonstratives, articles, compound adjectives, participles, proper adjectives, determiners, etc., are those adjectives placed before the nouns that are modified.

Sentence adverbs, conjunctive adverbs, and certain more adverbs can be positioned before adjectives /verbs/ other adverbs.

Example (In the below references, the modifiers are marked in bold.):

  1. Generally, the short-heighted girls are cunning.
  2. Please pass that black cover placed near the shiny box.

Misplaced Modifiers

The major problem of modifiers is with their placement. Moreover, modifiers may cause accidental humour or perplexity in a sentence if placed away from a noun that is being modified. For instance, consider the sentence below:

  • Incorrect sentence: He bought a cat for his sister named Pumpkin.

Explanation: In the above sentence, the cat’s name is Pumpkin, but that’s not clear. This humour and confusion are because of a misplaced modifier. For correction, the modifier is moved closer to the noun that is modified.

  • Correct Sentence: He bought a cat named Pumpkin for his sister.

Limiting Modifiers

Limiting Modifiers only impose limitations on the pronoun, subject, or noun that they instantly precede.

Some of the majorly used limiting modifiers are as follows:

  1. Simply
  2. Hardly
  3. At first
  4. Almost
  5. Just

The meaning of the complete sentence can change if a limiting modifier does not precede the subject or noun. Consider the following sentence, for instance:

  • Incorrect Sentence: Only Harry eats a burger.

Explanation: The above sentence indicates that Harry is the only person who eats a burger.

  • Correct Sentence: Harry eats a burger only.

Explanation: And, this sentence implies that Harry wants to eat a burger only.

The most appropriate technique to be sure that the limited modifier used is at the right place is to examine the meaning the sentence needs to convey and be sure the noun and subject related with meaning are at the closest position possible with a limited modifier.