Advanced & Post Reading Material (APRM)

EPP- II, 2024-25 GLA U, Mathura

Module-I(Verbal Skills)
Modifiers
Modifiers are words or phrases that add depth and Adverbs as Modifiers
clarity to sentences by providing extra details about Adverbs serve as modifier of a verb, an adjective,
the words they accompany. another adverb, a preposition, a phrase, a clause, or
Consider this sentence for example: a sentence, expressing some relation of manner or
1-The professor is teaching a course. quality, place, time, degree, number, cause,
The same sentence with modifiers: opposition, affirmation, or denial, and also serve to
2-The renowned professor is teaching a highly connect and to express comment on clause content.
specialized course in modern physics to graduate 7.Modifying Verbs: He drives carefully.
students. 8.Modifying Adjectives: The water is extremely
cold.
In this example: 9.Modifying other Adverbs: She works incredibly
quickly.
➢"Renowned" is an adjective modifier that
describes the noun "professor", giving more • Phrases
information about her reputation. Phrases function as modifiers by providing
➢"Highly specialized" is an adjective phrase additional information about nouns, verbs,
modifier that describes the noun "course", giving adjectives, or other phrases. For example:
more information about its level of complexity.
➢"Modern" is an adjective modifier that describes Types of phrases used as modifiers:
the noun "physics", giving more information Prepositional Phrases are phrases that begin with
about its focus. a preposition (such as "in", "on", "at", "by", etc.)
➢"To graduate students" is a prepositional phrase and end with a noun or pronoun that is the object of
modifier that describes the verb "teaching", the preposition. They function as a single unit,
giving more information about who is being providing information about location, direction,
taught. time, manner, or other relationships between the
words in a sentence.
Modifiers provide supplementary information, 12.The notebook on the table is mine.
refining sentences as adjectives, adverbs, or 13.She sings throughout the day.
phrases, enhancing meaning and precision but 14.The new eco-park located in the northern
requiring proper use to avoid errors. part of the city is extremely chilly.
15.We had a blast at the party.
Roles and Functions of Modifiers
Adjectives as Modifiers: Adverbial phrases are phrases that function as
Adjectives function as modifiers by describing or adverbs.They provide additional information about
specifying the qualities, properties, or the manner, time, place, frequency, or degree of an
characteristics of nouns or pronouns. Some action or state, and typically answer questions such
examples of adjectives as modifiers: as "how?", "when?", "where?", or "to what
3.Trustworthy: "I have some trustworthy friends extent?".
who live abroad." 16.She finished the project very quickly. 17.She
4.Intelligent: "Nitin is an intelligent student." played in the match like a champion.
5.Yellow:"These yellow seats are uncomfortable."
6.Private: "This is a private gathering." Note: Other categories of phrases also serve
adverbial roles-
 Advanced & Post Reading Material (APRM)
EPP- II, 2024-25 GLA U, Mathura
Module-I(Verbal Skills)
Modifiers
18.In a moment of haste, she submitted the report. 24.The car, which is in front of the building, is
(Explains when she submitted it—adverbial mine.
function of time.) 25.The students who study diligently will pass the
19.He stood at the edge of the cliff, contemplating exam.
his next move. (Indicates where he stood— 26.The gift that we chose for our Advisor is
adverbial function of place.) beautiful.
27.The city where I grew up is very polluted now.
• Appositives
• Appositives are words or phrases that provide The position of modifiers in a sentence is crucial as
additional information or clarification by it affects the meaning, clarity, and effectiveness of
renaming or explaining a nearby noun or phrase, the sentence. Proper placement avoids ambiguity,
often set off by commas. conveys intended emphasis, and enhances sentence
coherence. Misplaced modifiers can alter the
Examples: sentence's meaning, leading to confusion or
20. My cousin, an actor, is working at the RK misinterpretation. Therefore, correct use of
Studio in Mumbai. modifiers is essential for clear and effective
21. The city, Mathura, is famous for its many communication
temples.
22. The VC, Prof. Anup Kumar Gupta, will be • Common Errors
speaking at the conference.
23. The Post-Impressionist painter, Vincent van An error occurs when using modifiers if they are
Gogh, created one of the most recognizable misplaced or dangling, leading to confusion and
paintings in Western art, The Starry Night. ambiguity. Additionally, omitting necessary
modifiers or using redundant ones can also cause
• A clause errors.
A clause is a group of words containing a subject
and a predicate (verb). As a modifier, a clause Sentences with misplaced or dangling modifiers
functions as an adverbial or adjectival phrase, can be confusing or even absurd, while sentence
providing additional information about a verb, fragments lack clarity and completeness, failing to
noun, or other element in a sentence. form proper sentences.

Types of clauses used as modifiers:

• Misplaced Modifiers
A Participial clause is a clause that begins with a Misplaced modifiers can lead to confusion, or
participle (e.g., -ing or -ed form of a verb) and incorrect meaning by modifying the wrong word or
functions as an adjective. phrase. This occurs when words, phrases, or
For Instance, clauses providing additional information are
The woman, standing in the parking area, is my incorrectly placed in a sentence, resulting in
English teacher. misleading or humorous interpretations.

A Relative clause is a clause that begins with a The following sentences have a common thread -
relative pronoun (e.g., who, which, that) and they're all examples of misplaced modifiers.
provides additional information about a noun.
Example:
 Advanced & Post Reading Material (APRM)
EPP- II, 2024-25 GLA U, Mathura
Module-I(Verbal Skills)
Modifiers
1.Incorrect: Walking into the lobby, the The adverb "badly" incorrectly modifies the
motivational poster caught my eye. infinitive phrase "tend to cattle" instead of the verb
Correct: As I walked into the lobby, the "needed". The incorrect sentence makes you think
motivational poster caught my eye. if the farm owner’s need is urgent, or does he need
Explanation: The modifier "Walking into the someone who is bad at tending cattle?
lobby" incorrectly modifies "the motivational
poster" instead of "I". This gives an impression that • Dangling Modifiers:
the motivational poster is walking into the lobby A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause
that describes something missing from the
2.Incorrect: After getting lost and dejected, the sentence. It must modify a word or phrase within
rescue team finally found the forest fire survivors the sentence, but often occurs at the beginning,
Correct: After getting lost and dejected, the forest typically as a participial, infinitive, or prepositional
fire survivors were finally found by the rescue phrase, leaving it unclear what it modifies.
team.
Explanation: The original sentence incorrectly 1. Incorrect: I smelled fresh flowers entering the
places the modifiers "After getting lost and reception hall.
dejected" with the rescue team, implying that the Corrected: Entering the reception hall, I smelled
rescue team got lost and dejected. However, the fresh flowers.
intended meaning is that the survivors got lost and Explanation: The modifier "entering the reception
dejected. hall" should modify "I", not "fresh flowers",
because it doesn't make sense for entering the
3.Incorrect: Covered in dust, the janitor cleaned reception hall to smell fresh flowers.
the shelf.
Correct: The janitor cleaned the shelf, which was 2. Incorrect: At three years old, Dad taught me
covered in dust. how to ride a bicycle.
Explanation: The adjective phrase "Covered in Corrected: When I was three years old, Dad taught
dust" incorrectly modifies "the janitor" instead of me how to ride a bicycle.
"the shelf".The incorrect sentence states that the Explanation: The modifier "at three years old"
janitor is covered in dust before cleaning the shelf. should modify "me", not "Dad", because it's
nonsensical for Dad to be three years old.
4.Incorrect: While walking to the library, the rain
poured down. 3. Incorrect: Swimming in the pond, my clothes
Correct: While I was walking to the library, the got drenched.
rain poured down. Corrected: While I was swimming in the pond, my
Explanation: The modifier "While walking to the clothes got drenched.
library" incorrectly modifies "the rain" instead of Explanation: The modifier "swimming in the
"I". Who's walking to the library? The incorrect pond" should modify a person, not the clothes,
sentence fails to state that clearly. because clothes can't swim in a pond.

5.Incorrect: The farm owner told everyone he 4. Incorrect: While working from home, the cat
needed someone who could tend to cattle badly. stole my food.
Correct: The farm owner told everyone he badly Corrected: While I was working from home, my
needed someone who could tend to cattle. cat stole my food.
Explanation:
 Advanced & Post Reading Material (APRM)
EPP- II, 2024-25 GLA U, Mathura
Module-I(Verbal Skills)
Modifiers
Explanation: The modifier "while working from
home" should modify a person, not the cat, because
a cat can't work from home.

5. Incorrect: After eating junk food, my head

started to ache.
Corrected: After I ate junk food, my head started
to ache.
Explanation: The modifier "after eating junk food"
should modify a person, not the head, because a
head can't eat junk food.

Sentences with misplaced or dangling modifiers

can be confusing or even absurd, while sentence
fragments lack clarity and completeness, failing to
form proper sentences. However, with a conscious
effort, these errors can be fixed with ease. To fix
dangling modifiers, follow these three steps:

Identify the modifier: Look for an -ing modifier or

another modifying phrase at the beginning of your
sentence.

Example:
Incorrect: Walking into the lobby, the motivational
poster caught my eye.

1. Check the logic: Ensure the modifier and the

noun that follows it make sense together. If they
don't, you likely have a dangling modifier.

In the example above, it doesn't make sense for the

poster to walk into the lobby.

2. Rewrite the sentence: Correct the dangling

modifier by rephrasing the sentence.

Corrected: Walking into the lobby, I caught sight of

the motivational poster.
Advanced & Post Reading Material (APRM)
EPP- II, 2024-25 GLA U, Mathura
Module-I(Verbal Skills)
Modifiers