The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002

14.3. Pre-modifiers
Unit fourteen. Modifying

Sections 650-653; 440; 459; 522

Modifiers after a determiner but before the noun head are called pre-modifiers.

There are several types of pre-modifiers:

• adjectives

• adjective phrases

• - ing participles

• - ed participles

• nouns.

In addition two or more modifiers can modify the same noun.

Task one **

Underline and identify the type of pre-modifier.

1. Is that a new car?

2. It’s better than being an anorexic model.

3. They were sworn enemies.

4. It’s in the published text.

5. There’s still a very long way to go.

6. That’s an interesting question.

7. The train company is in great trouble.

8. It’s a government organisation.

9. That’s a very exciting idea.

10. There’s the punishment room.

Task two **

Modify the noun underlined with pre-modifiers based on the information in the sentence. Put hyphens where necessary.

1. That house is Victorian and part of a terrace.

2. He was wearing a jersey that was red and made of lambswool.

3. He was a man who had made himself successful.

4. The table was designed artistically and made of oak.

5. The institute financed itself.

6. The television was very old and only showed films in black and white.

7. The car was an estate with three doors.

8. The student worked hard.

9. That rose flowers early.

10. The date on the credit card shows when it will expire.

Task three ***

Complete the sentences below by putting the modifiers in the correct order before the noun.

1. We’ve had some ... weather this year. (very wet, English, Spring)

2. He bought a ... rug in Switzerland. (oriental, beautiful)

3. They loved the ... beer. (German, strong, wheat)

4. He had the accident during the … vacation. (university, summer, long)

5. She admired all the ... surfers. (Australian, strong, blond)

6. The business was a sold to a ... company. (textile, very small, French, unknown)

7. He loved the ... hills. (south-facing, Welsh, craggy)

8. The sheep were lost on the ... mountains. (snow-covered, cold)

9. He’s a ... man. (patient, very kind, old)

10. It tasted like that ... wine. (dessert, Hungarian, classic)

Task four **

Underline the pre-modifiers in the text, and classify them as i) adjective; ii) noun; iii) genitive; iv) -ing participle; v) -ed participle; vi) compound; vii) numeral.

The famous Manchester flat cap, designed to keep off the rain and act as a shield against bailiffs, foremen and wives, is to enjoy a new lease of life as a symbol of the Commonwealth Games.

At the risk of splitting northern opinion between the modernisers who abhor “flat cap syndrome”, and the nostalgics who wallow in it, the headgear will top off the official uniform of thousands of games staff and volunteers.

Made of cotton cloth, dyed a no-nonsense northern black, the squashy symbol defeated the all-conquering baseball cap in a play-off for the games contract. Melding the tested shapes of the Yorkshire pudding beret and Soviet worker’s cap as worn by Lenin, it was launched yesterday in the homely setting of a Manchester Asda supermarket.

“We’re particularly pleased with it as a concept,” said Beth Watson, chief designer for the supermarket chain, which is running-up over 125,000 pieces of uniform as part of its sponsorship for the 11-day event in July and August.

The cap is the nearest thing to a traditional item in the kit for Crew 2002, as the helpers, enablers and greeters will be known. It comes with a snazzy bag, water bottle, poncho and umbrella.

(from The Guardian, 6 March 2002)