Using Modifiers

1. UsingModifiers

2. Modifier • A modifier is a word, a phrase or a clause that describes or limits the meaning of another word. • Two kinds of modifiers- adjectives and adverbs- may be used to compare things. • The three degrees of comparison of modifiers are positive, comparative, superlative.

3. The three degrees of comparison of modifiers are positive, comparative, and superlative • To show decreasing comparisons we use the words less and least

4. RegualrComparison • Mostone-syllablemodifiersformtheircomparative and superlativedegreesbyaddinger and est

5. Regular Comparison • Some two-syllable modifires form their comparitive by adding er and est. Others use more and most.

6. Regular Comparison • Modifiers with three or more syllables use more and most to form their comparative and superlative degrees.

7. Irregular Comparison

8. Uses of Comparative and Superlative forms. • Use the comparative degree when we are comparing two things. • Susie is taller than Bill. • The girls work more quietly than the boys. • We use the word “than” after the comparative • Use the superlative to compare when comparing more than two things. • Susie is the tallest kid in the class. • Of all my students, Jane works the most quietly. • We use the word “the” before the superlative

9. Uses of Comparative and Superlative forms. • We use good to modify a noun or a pronoun. We use well to modify a verb. • I have good grades. I work well with others. • We use adjectives after linking verbs. • The teacher seemed nice. • The students were wonderful. • Do not use double comparisons. • This city is safer than Chicago. (yes) • This city is more safer than Chicago. (no)

10. Uses of Comparative and Superlative forms. • Do not use double negatives. A double negative is the use of two negative words to express one negative idea. • She hasn´t never liked cats. (incorrect) Common negative words: Barely Hardly Neither Never No no one Nobody None Not Nothing Nowhere Scarcely

11. QUICK REVIEW: CORRECT THE MISTAKES • With each step forward, the cats crouched more lower. • The yellow cat was the largest of the two and the most frightening. • The black cat, however, was the better hunter in the whole neighborhood. • The tiny mouse left the hole and searched for a least obvious hiding place. • The mouse hardly made no sound at all.

12. Placement of Modifiers • Place modifying words, phrases and clauses as close to possible as the words they modify.

13. Other modifiers – Prepositional Phrases • A prepositonal phrase is a made up of a preposition, a noun or a pronoun (and any modifiers of that noun or pronoun.) • Misplaced: A cat would not be dangerous to the mice with a bell. • Clear: • Misplaced: The mice had a meeting about the cat in fear. • Clear: • Misplaced: The mouse said in the morning she would go.

14. OtherModifiers- Participial Phrases • A participlephraseconsists of a verb in eitherthepresentparticipleorpastparticipleform and itsrelatedwords. • Misplaced: Themicehidfromthecatrunningfearfully.

15. Other Modifiers- Dangling participial phrase • A participle phrase that does not clearly modify any word in the sentence is a dangling participial phrase. To correct a dangling phrase, add a subject, verb, or both to the dangling modifier. • Dangling: Worried constantly, a plan was needed. • Clear:

16. OtherModifiers- Clauses • A clause is a group of words that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as part of a sentence. • An adjective clause modifies and noun or pronoun. Most begin with words like that, which, who, whom, or whose. • An adverb clause modifies a verb, and adjective or another adverb. Most start with words like although, while, if or because. • Misplaced: The story was written by John that we read today.