Writing skills success - LearningExpress 2009
Lesson 15. Modifiers
Pretest
Language exerts hidden power, like the moon on the tides.
—Rita Mae Brown, American writer (1944- )
LESSON SUMMARY
Modifiers brighten and enliven our writing, but can wreak havoc on structure if used improperly. This lesson shows you how to avoid common problems with adjectives and adverbs.
Words and phrases that describe other words are called modifi ers. Words that describe nouns and pronouns are called adjectives. Words that describe verbs, adjectives, or adverbs are called adverbs. Entire phrases or groups of words can also function as modifiers. The English language is structured in such a way that modifiers play a vital part in communication. Using them correctly is an important skill.
Adjectives
Adjectives describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Here is an easy way to tell if a word is an adjective. Adjectives answer one of three questions about another word in the sentence: Which one? What kind? and How many? The following table illustrates this. The adjectives are highlighted to make them easy to identify.
Pay special attention to adjectives that follow linking verbs. Here, the adjective follows the verb, but it describes the noun or pronoun that comes before the verb. The following sentences illustrate this. The italicized adjectives describe the underlined nouns.
This cheesecake tastes delicious. [delicious cheesecake]
Chris’s change of heart seemed appropriate. [appropriate change]
The room smelled strange. [strange room]
Fewer/Less, Number/Amount
Use the adjective fewer to modify plural nouns, things that can be counted. Use less for singular nouns that represent a quantity or a degree. Most nouns to which an -s can be added require the adjective fewer.
The promotional staff had fewer innovative ideas [plural noun] than the marketing staff.
The marketing staff had less time [singular noun] to brainstorm than the promotional staff.
The same principle applies to the nouns number and amount. Use the noun number when referring to things that can be made plural or that can be counted. Use the noun amount when referring to singular nouns.
The number of hours [plural noun] we have for this telethon has been reduced.
The amount of time [singular noun] we have for this telethon has been reduced.
Adverbs
Use adverbs to describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Here is an easy way to tell if a word is an adverb. Adverbs answer one of these questions about another word in the sentence: where? when? how? and to what extent? The following table illustrates this. The adverbs are highlighted.
This next table shows examples of adverbs modifying verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. The adverbs are highlighted; the words they modify are underlined.
Adjective or Adverb?
Sometimes, writers mistakenly use adjectives in the place of adverbs. This is illustrated in the following sentences. The italicized words are adjectives incorrectly used in place of adverbs. The adverb form follows the sentence.
Megan can think of answers very quick. [quickly]
Store these antiques very careful. [carefully]
Ernie whispered the news as quiet as he could. [quietly]
Take special care to choose the correct word when using verbs that deal with the senses: feel, taste, look, smell, sound. If the word following the verb describes a noun or pronoun that comes before the verb, use an adjective. On the other hand, if the word following the verb describes the verb, use an adverb. In the following table, the adjectives and adverbs are highlighted and the nouns or verbs they modify are underlined.
Good and Well
Good is an adjective. Well is an adverb. Sometimes, good is mistakenly used to describe a verb. Use well to describe an action. The words modified by good and well are underlined in these examples.
Brenton did well on the test.
Raul felt good after the marathon.
The new marketing strategy was well planned.
The lasagna smelled good when I walked through the door.
Comparisons
Adjectives and adverbs change form when they are used in comparisons. When you compare two items, use the comparative form of the modifier. If you are comparing more than two items, use the superlative form of the modifier.
The comparative form is created in one of two ways:
1. Add-er to the modifier if it is a short word of one or two syllables.
2. Place the word more or the word less before the modifier if it is a multisyllable word.
In addition, some modifiers change form completely. Examine the samples in the following table. The first six lines of the table illustrate these special modifiers that change form. The rest use the two rules previously mentioned.
When comparing items in a prepositional phrase, use between for two items and among for three or more. Look at how the comparative and superlative forms are used in the following sentences.
Up is the better direction for the stock market to be going. [comparing two directions]
Blue looks better than any other color we’ve seen. [comparing two colors many times]
The classic coupe is the best luxury car available. [comparing more than two cars]
The Mississippi is the best river for walleye fishing. [comparing more than two rivers]
The first run model was more thoroughly tested than the prototype. [comparing two things]
Avoid Illogical or Unclear Comparisons
“Ellie is more disorganized than any woman” is an illogical statement. It implies that Ellie, who is a woman, is more disorganized than herself. Always include the words other or else to keep your comparisons from being illogical.
Ellie is more disorganized than any other woman.
Ted can concentrate better than anyone else in our division.
Avoid Double Comparisons
A double comparison occurs when a writer uses both-er or-est and more or most. The following table provides examples of common mistakes and how to correct them.
Avoid Double Negatives
When a negative word is added to a statement that is already negative, a double negative results. Avoid double negatives in your writing. The words hardly and barely can cause problems; they function as negative words. In the following example sentences, the negative words are highlighted. Pay close attention to how the incorrect sentences are rewritten to avoid the double negative.
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Misplaced Modifiers
Place words, phrases, or clauses that describe nouns and pronouns as closely as possible to the words they describe. Failure to do this often results in a misplaced modifier—and a sentence that means something other than what was intended.
Words
For example, the words only, almost, and just should be placed as closely as possible to the word described. The best place is right before the words they describe. The placement of the word affects the meaning of the sentence.
The customers only looked at two samples.
The customers looked at only two samples.
In the first sentence, the customers “only looked” at the samples; they didn’t touch them. In the second sentence, the customers looked at “only two,” not three or four, samples. The placement of only changes the meaning.
Here’s an example with almost:
Chad almost scored three touchdowns.
Chad scored almost three touchdowns.
In the first version, Chad “almost scored” three times—he must have come close to the goal line three times without actually crossing. In the second version, Chad scored “almost three” touchdowns—maybe 2.2 touchdowns. How many points are awarded for that?
Here’s how placing just can affect the meaning of a sentence:
The Hill family just leases a car.
The Hill family leases just a car.
In the first version, the Hill family “just leases” a car, so they don’t own or buy a car. In the second, they lease “just a car,” not a truck or a van or any other vehicle.
Phrases and Clauses
Phrases and clauses that describe nouns or pronouns must also be placed as closely as possible to the words they describe. The sentences in the following table contain misplaced modifiers. Pay close attention to how they are rewritten to clarify the meaning.
Dangling Modifiers
Words, phrases, or clauses that begin a sentence and are set off by commas sometimes mistakenly modify the wrong noun or pronoun. These are called dangling modifiers. The following sentences contain dangling modifiers. Pay close attention to how the sentences are rewritten to avoid the problem.
Practice
Circle the correct word in each of the following sentences. The answers to this set of questions can be found at the end of the lesson.
1. Marta dashed as (quick, quickly) as she could to the store for some sugar.
2. Charlotte seemed (bored, boredly) during the long meeting.
3. The old door doesn’t open as (easy, easily) as it used to.
4. The line moved too (slow, slowly), frustrating Justin.
5. If you ask (polite, politely), she is more likely to grant your request.
6. The customer at the end of the line looked (angry, angrily).
7. When the phone rang (loud, loudly), it woke up the baby.
8. The new mattress was more (comfortable, comfortably) than our old one.
9. Lauren played especially (well, good) at the recital.
10. Lisa looked (careful, carefully) for any errors in the report.
11. They searched (thorough, thoroughly) in the attic and the basement.
12. Franklin had (fewer, less) difficulty with the decision because he had (fewer, less) choices.
13. Josie is the (younger, youngest) of the twins and the (shorter, shortest) one in the whole family.
14. Macaroni and cheese tastes especially (good, well) if the ingredients are mixed (good, well).
15. The staff hasn’t heard (anything, nothing) about the new vacation policy.
16. Divide these cookies (between, among) the two girls, but split the cake (between, among) all the guests at the party.
Choose the correctly written sentence from each of the following sets.
17. a. I like olives and pimentoes boiled in oil. b. Boiled in oil, I like olives and pimentos.
18. a. While speeding along a country road, two deer dashed across the road in front of our car.
b. Two deer dashed across the road in front of our car as we were speeding along a country road.
19. a. Even Rachel sang with the choir with a broken leg.
b. Even with a broken leg, Rachel sang with the choir.
20. a. We heard about the bank robbers who were arrested on the evening news.
b. We heard on the evening news about the bank robbers who were arrested.
Answers
1. quickly
2. bored
3. easily
4. slowly
5. politely
6. angry
7. loudly
8. comfortable
9. well
10. carefully
11. thoroughly
12. less, fewer
13. younger, shortest
14. good, well
15. anything
16. between, among
17. a.
18. b.
19. b.
20. b.
TIP
Practice what you have learned in this lesson by listening to others speak. Many people make mistakes with modifiers as they speak. When you hear such a mistake, think about how you might rephrase what the person said to make it correct. Once again, don’t feel compelled to correct the mistakes; just use them as opportunities for mental practice so that no one will have the opportunity to correct you.