What are Modifiers?

A modifier can be an adjective, an adverb, or a phrase or clause acting as an
adjective or adverb. In every case, the basic principle is the same: the modifier
adds information to another element in the sentence.

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide description in sentences.
Modifiers allow writers to take the picture that they have in their heads and
transfer it accurately to the heads of their readers. Essentially, modifiers breathe
life into sentences. Take a look at this "dead" sentence:
Stephen dropped his fork.
 Now read what several well placed modifiers can do:
Poor Stephen, who just wanted a quick meal to get through his three-hour
biology lab, quickly dropped his fork on the cafeteria tray, gagging with disgust
as a tarantula wiggled out of his cheese omelet, a sight requiring a year of
therapy before Stephen could eat eggs again.
 Remember that modifiers can be adjectives, adverbs, absolute phrases,
infinitive phrases, participle phrases, prepositional phrases, adjective
clauses, and adverb clauses. The sentence above contains at least one
example of each:
adjective = poor
adverb = quickly
absolute phrase = a sight requiring a year of therapy before Stephen could eat
eggs again
infinitive phrase = to get through his three-hour biology lab
participle phrase = gagging with disgust
prepositional phrase = on the cafeteria tray
adjective clause = who just wanted a quick meal
adverb clause = as a tarantula wiggled out of his cheese omelet
Without modifiers, sentences would be no fun to read. Carefully chosen, well-placed
modifiers allow your writing to express your unique slant on the situation you are
capturing with words.
Adapted from: http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/modifier.htm
LATTC Writing Center
Rev. September 1, 2007
Title V Funded
Modifier Quiz
Multiple-choice exercise
If the sentence is incorrect, choose the correct answer. If the sentence is correct, choose answer A.
1. While talking to the veterinarian, the dog lay
by my foot.
A. While talking to the veterinarian, the dog lay by my
foot.
B. The dog lay by my foot while talking to the
veterinarian.
C. While I was talking to the veterinarian, the dog lay
by my foot.
D. Talking to the veterinarian, the dog lay by my foot.
2. Sitting under the table, Christina found her
lost ring.
A. Sitting under the table, Christina found her lost ring.
B. Christina found her lost ring under the kitchen
table.
C. Christina, under the table, found her lost ring.
D. Sitting under the table in plain view, Christina
found her lost ring.
3. Sabrina only eats tuna and crackers for
lunch.
A. Sabrina only eats tuna and crackers for lunch.
B. For lunch, Sabrina only eats tuna and crackers.
C. Sabrina eats only tuna and crackers for lunch.
D. Sabrina eats tuna and crackers only for lunch.
4. While playing with her dog, Samantha's
bracelet fell off her wrist.
A. While playing with her dog, Samantha's bracelet fell
off her wrist.
B. Samantha's bracelet fell off her wrist while she was
playing with her dog.
C. When playing with her dog, Samantha's bracelet fell
off her wrist.
D. Playing with her dog, the bracelet fell off
Samantha's wrist.
5. David found ten dollars walking into the
building.
A. David found ten dollars walking into the building.
B. Walking into the building, David found ten dollars.
C. David found ten dollars going into the building.
D. David found ten dollars walking.
6. We almost walked for two hours before we
found our way back to the campsite.
A. We almost walked for two hours before we found
our way back to the campsite.
B. We walked for two hours before we found our way
almost back to the campsite.
C. We walked for two hours before we almost found
our way back to the campsite.
D. We walked for almost two hours before we found
our way back to the campsite.
7. Melissa saw the Washington Monument
running every morning.
A. Melissa saw the Washington Monument running
every morning.
B. Melissa saw the Washington Monument on a
morning jog.
C. Melissa saw the Washington Monument run every
morning.
D. Running every morning, Melissa saw the
Washington Monument.
8. Believing that the tooth fairy had visited, the
shiny coins were a welcome sight to the child.
A. Believing that the tooth fairy had visited, the shiny
coins were a welcome sight to the child.
B. Believing that the tooth fairy had visited, the child
excitedly found the shiny coins.
C. Hoping that the tooth fairy had visited, the shiny
coins were a welcome sight to the child.
D. Knowing that the tooth fairy had visited, the shiny
coins were a welcome sight to the child.
Adapted from http://www.cfcc.edu/faculty/rhardin/quiz6.html
Answers: 1.C; 2.B; 3. C; 4. B; 5. B; 6. D; 7. D; 8. B
LATTC Writing Center
Rev. September 1, 2007
Title V Funded