Modifier notes

★কোন word অথবা phrase যদি অন্য কোন word অথবা phrase এর আগে অথবা পরে বসে সেই word
অথবা phrase কে modify করে তবে তাকে modifier বলে।

★Modifier দুই প্রকার:

Pre- modifier and post-modifier.

#pre- modifier: কোন word অথবা phrase যদি অন্য কোন word অথবা phrase এর পূর্বে বসে তাকে
modify করে তাহলে তাকে pre-modifier বলে।

#post modifier:কোন word অথবা phrase যদি অন্য কোন word অথবা phrase এর পরে বসে তাকে
modify করে তাহলে তাকে post-modifier বলে।

Adjective as modifier
যে সকল শব্দ দ্বারা কোন Noun বা Pronoun এর দোষ, গুণ, সংখ্যা, পরিমাণ, অবস্থা ইত্যাদি
প্রকাশ করা হয় তাকে Adjective বলে।

Example:

Namira is a beautiful girl. (এখানে Noun এর গুণ বুঝাচ্ছে)

He has three red pens. (Pronoun এর সংখ্যা বুঝাচ্ছে)

Safi is ill. (Noun এর অবস্থা বুঝাচ্ছে)

participle as modifier
Participle sentence এ adjective এর মত কাজ করে।

★present participle( verb 1 + i n g)

EX: I am going to the park

★past participle (verb 3)

EX: I saw some broken glasses on the floor.

noun adjective as modifier

একটি sentence এ পাশাপাশি দুটি noun থাকলে প্রথমটি adjective এবং দ্বিতীয়টি noun এর
মত কাজ করে।

Ex:I am going to the book fair.

They are enjoying the football match.

determiner as modifier.

1)article ( a,an,the)

2)possessive adjective. (my,his,her,our,their)

3)distributive (each, every, either, neither)

4)demonstrative ( these, that, this, those)

5)quantifier- অনির্দিষ্ট পরিমান বোঝালে

(some, few, any, many, little, no, none )

6)numerical - নির্দিষ্ট সংখ্যা বুঝায়

★cardinal (1,2,3, four)

★ordinal (1st,2nd,3rd,fourth)

★multiplicative( single, double)

adverb as modifier.
Verb কে where, when, how দ্বারা question করলে যে উত্তর পাওয়া যাবে সেটা adverb.

★where -( adverb of place)

I will join the party.

★when -(adverb of time)

I will go to school tomorrow

★how -(adverb of manner)

Rohan answered the questions separately.

Adverbial as modifier
Adverbial phrase এর মত কাজ করে।

অর্থাৎ একাধিক word নিয়ে Adverbial গঠিত হয়।

example : I will go to school the next day.

read the passage very carefully.

prepositional phrase as modifier

preposition দিয়ে phrase শুরু হবে।

The girl in blue saree is known to me.

The boy in torn clothes is very poor.

Relative clause/adjective clause

Relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which and that) দিয়ে clause শুরু হবে।

Ismail, who is a smart student, stood first in the exam.

Mr Rahim, who is a great physician,came to visit us.

The book,which is easy to read,given to us for final preparation.

Appositive phrase or case in Apposition

oppositive যেহেতু phrase সেহেতু এখানে finite verb থাকবে না।

Ismile, a smart student, stood first in the exam

Mr. Rahim, a great physician, came to visit us.

 Exercise
1.corruption is dishonesty (a) —— (use a participle to post-modify the noun) by people in position or
power. We find (b) —— (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) dishonesty in almost all sectors of
our life, society and in government departments. At present corruption has been so (c) —— (pre-modify
the verb) rooted in our national life that it becomes a curse. Businessmen, doctors, lawyers, service
holders, teachers, politicians, engineers are (d) —— (post-modify the verb). We increase the problem (e)
—— (use a participle to post-modify the verb) bribes. We do not want our papers (f) —— (use an
infinitive to post-modify the verb) stuck in the piles of dusty files. Thus corruption is spreading (g) ——
(use an adverb to post-modify the verb) like cancer. The corrupt people flourish at the expense of the
society and the nation (h) —— (use an adverb to post-modify the verb). This malpractice should be
stopped (i) —— (use an adverb post-modify the verb). Corruption is ingrained in human nature (j) ——
(use a participle to post-modify the noun) power and pelf in pursuit of happiness.

Answer: a) applying, making b) this c) acute d) mostly involved, largely involved, greatly
involved e) taking, receiving, demanding f) to get g) quickly, epidemically, largely h) largely i)
quickly, strictly j) applying, utilizing

2. Nelson Mandela, (a) —— (post-modify the noun with an appositive), is one of the greatest leaders of
the world. During (b) —— (use determiner) time of Mandela, the Europeans were separated from the
non-Europeans. It was (c) —— (use a noun adjective to pre-modify the noun) policy of racial
segregation. The blacks were subjected to (d) —— (use a quantifier to pre-modify the noun) sorts of
indignities. They were denied all basic (e) —— (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) rights. They
were in fact aliens in (f) —— (use possessive to pre-modify the noun phrase) own country. The blacks
were also treated (g) —— (use an adverb to post-modify the verb). Even dogs received a much better
treatment than the blacks. The (h) —— (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) leader vowed to put
an end to the inhuman practice. Unfortunately, (i) —— (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun)
great man was thrown behind the prison bars. But the oppressive ruler could not break his (j) —— (use a
present participle to pre-modify the noun) spirit.

Answer: a) the first black president of South Africa b) that c) government, ruler d) all, many
e) human, f) their g) badly, brutally, unkindly h) great i) this j) rising
3. Bangladesh, (a) —— (post-modify the noun with an appositive), is a developing country. (b) —— (pre-
modify the noun) parents are engaging their children to work from an (c) —— (use adjective to pre-
modify the noun) age. They have to work (d) —— (use an intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) hard to
earn their living. (e) —— (use determiner) child labourers in Bangladesh are (f) —— (pre-modify the
noun) workers. They are obliged (g) —— (use an infinitive phrase to post-modify the noun) in cheap
hotels and shops. (h) —— (use adjective as pre-modifier) children work as (i) —— (use noun adjective to
pre-modify the noun) hawkers (j) —— (use participle as the post-modifier) different items to the
passengers-by.

Answer: a) an agricultural country, a land of rivers, a riverine country, a land of South Asia b)
some, poor, most c) early, immature d) very e) the f) child g) to work in all day long h) some i)
street j) selling

4. There lived a (a) —— (pre-modify the noun) fox in a jungle. Once the fox was feeling (b) —— (use an
intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) hungry. He roamed here and there (c) —— (use prepositional
phrase to post-modify the verb), but he could not find anything to eat. He became (d) —— (use an
intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) tired. (e) —— (use infinitive phrase to post-modify the verb), he
sat under a (f) —— (use a noun adjective to pre-modify the noun) tree. When he looked up, he saw a
crow (g) —— (use a participle to post-modify the noun) on one of the branches of the tree. The crow
was holding a piece of meat (h) —— (use prepositional phrase to post-modify the verb), (i) —— (use a
participle phrase to pre-modify the verb), the mouth of the fox began to water and he wished to have (j)
—— (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) piece of meat.

Answer: a) cunning, clever b) very c) in search of food, in order to get food d) very e) to lose
hope f) mango, banyan g) sitting h) in its beak i) seeing it, watching the peace of meat j) that

5. Beauty is (a) —— (use determiner) creation of art. But it is very difficult (b) —— (infinitive phrase)
beauty. We may (c) —— (pre-modify the verb) appreciate it. Beauty may not be identified (d) —— (post-
modify the verb) or objectively. It may depend on (e) —— (use possessive) sense of perfection. Another
problem is that ugliness has (f) —— (use possessive) beauty too. Now the question arises whether
beauty and ugliness are the (g) —— (pre-modify the noun) parts of art. Poet and artists have infused
both in (h) —— (use possessive) works. They say that (i) —— (use quantifiers) truths are always objects
of beauty. There are two poems on beauty written by two poets of (i) —— (pre-modify the noun) ages.
Answer: a) the b) to define c) always d) subjectively e) our f) its g) opposite, appreciating h)
their i) all j) different

6. Once a fox was feeling (a) —— (use an adverb to pre-modify the adjective) hungry. He roamed here
and there (b) —— (post-modify the verb with prepositional phrase) food but could not find anything (c)
—— (use and infinitive phrase to post-modify the verb). To take rest it sat under a tree. When the fox
looked up, he saw, to (d) —— (use possessive to premodify the noun) great joy, a crow sitting on one of
the branches of the tree. He was holding a piece of meat (e) —— (post-modify the verb with
prepositional phrase). On seeing this, his mouth began to water and started thinking about (f) —— (use
article to premodify the noun) piece of meat. At last he hit upon a plan to get (g) —— (use a
demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) piece of meat from the crow. He got up and said to crow, “How
handsome you look! What a nice beak you have! But if you could sing (h) —— (post-modify the verb
with an adverb), you could win for yourself the title of the ‘Queen of the birds’.” The foolish crow was
taken in by the oily talk of the fox. He felt happy. He (i) —— (pre-modify the verb with an adverbial of
time) opened his beak (j) —— (use an infinitive phrase to post-modify the verb) and the piece of meat
fell down on the ground. The fox picked it up and ate it up at once.

Answer: a) very b) in search of c) to remove his hunger, to satisfy his hunger d) his e) in his
beak f) the g) that h) nicely, sweetly i) then, at once j) to sing a song

7. Robi, (a) —— (post-modify the noun with an appositive), is known to his classmates as a good
student. He has (b) —— (use a quantifier to pre-modify the noun) good qualities. He knows that the (c)
—— (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) duty of student is to study and he never neglects (d) ——
(use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) duty. He prepares (e) —— (use possessive to pre-modify
the noun) lessons regularly. He maintains discipline. He knows the value of time. He gets up (f) ——
(post-modify the verb with an adverb) so that he can get enough time to study. He goes to school (g)
—— (post-modify the verb with an adverb). He never wastes a (h) —— (use determiner to pre-modify
the noun) moment in vain. Robi is (i) —— (pre-modify the adjective with an intensifier) gentle. He
always obeys his parents and teachers. He never mixes with (j) —— (pre-modify the noun) boys. A
student like Robi is a great asset of a nation.

Answer: a) my best friend b) many c) main, fundamental d) this e) his f) early g) regularly,
timely, daily h) single i) very j) bad

8. Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haq (a) —— (post-modify the noun with an appositive), was very
meritorious from his boyhood. His father Kazi Wazed Ali was a (b) —— (Use an adjective to pre-modify
the noun) pleader in the Barisal Bar. (c) —— (use quantifier to pre-modify the noun) day the boy Fazlul
Haq was reading (d) —— (post-modify the verb with prepositional phrase). His father was passing by. He
was reading his lessons and tearing off (e) —— (use article to pre-modify then noun) pages of his book
one after another. He (f) —— (use an adverb to pre-modify the verb) entered the room and said, “O my
boy, do not play with your book”. “I am not playing. I have already gone through (g) —— (use a
demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) pages. So I don’t need them at all,” said he (F.H). (h) —— (use
possessive to pre-modify the noun) father wanted to test him. He asked him to quote (i) — — (use
quantifier to pre-modify the noun) lines from such and such pages of his book. Fazlul Haq quoted the
pieces from memory word for word. He was (j) —— (use an adverb to pre-modify the adjective)
charmed at the wonderful memory of his son.

Answer: a) the tiger of Bengal b) famous, great c) one d) in his room e) the f) at once, then g)
these h) his i) some j) very

9. A balance diet is a good mixture of (a) —— (pre-modify the noun) foods. It is essential for us (b) ——
(post-modify the adjective with an infinitive) a healthy life. There are many benefits of eating a (c) ——
(pre-modify the noun) diet because it prevents us from (d)—— (use determiner to pre-modify the noun)
diseases. As a result, we do not get sick (e) —— (postmodify the verb with an adverb). We should select
(f) —— (pre-modify the verb with possessive) diet according to our needs. We should not eat the (g)
—— (use adjective to pre-modify the noun) foods for the whole week. We can keep fit (h) —— (use a
participle) a balanced diet. But it is not easy (i) —— (post-modify the adjective with an infinitive) a
balanced diet. Here (j) —— (use a determiner) nutrionist can help us.

Answer: a) healthy, nutritive, balanced b) to lead, to enjoy c) balanced d) fatal, many,

serious, great e) regularly, easily f) our g) same h) taking, having, eating i) to maintain, to
have, to manage j) a

10. Tea is the most (a) —— (pre-modify noun) drink in the modern world. It is (b) —— (pre-modify
adjective) refreshing. Tea plants grow (c) —— (post-modify verb) on the slope of the hills. In the garden,
tea plants are (d) —— (pre-modify verb) planted in rows. (e) —— (pre-modify noun) leaves are plucked
for times a year. (f) —— (participle phrase to pre-modify subject), they are processed in a machine and
then dried in a cauldron over a furnace. After (g) —— (determiner to pre-modify noun) process, tea is
ready for consumption. As a drink, tea is prepared in a (h) —— (pre-modify noun) way. Now, it is a
common drink (i) —— (infinitive phrase to post-modify noun). However, taking too much tea is harmful
(j) —— (prepositional phrase to post-modify adjective).
Answer: a) popular, common b) always c) well, plenty d) always e) tender, green f) plucking
the leaves, collecting the leaves g) the, this h) healthy, serious i) to refresh our mind, to make
us fresh j) for all ages people.

11. It is said that the other name of (a) —— (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) water is life. By
drinking, we quench (b) —— (use possessive to pre-modify the noun) thirst. So we need pure water (c)
—— (use infinitive to post-modify the verb) on the earth. But (d) —— (use participle to pre-modify the
noun) water is life-killing. By drinking unsafe water, we suffer from (e) —— (use quantifier to pre-modify
the noun) diseases. We may (f) —— (use pre-modify the verb) face (g) —— (pre-modify the noun) death
by taking contaminated water. We are responsible for (h) —— (use demonstrative) pollution. So, (i) ——
(pre-modify the noun) awareness is necessary (j) —— (infinitive) water pollution.

Answer: a) pure, fresh, uncontaminated b) our c) to live d) polluted, contaminated e) many f)

even g) sudden, pre-mature h) this i) public j) to stop, to control, to remove

12. A (a) —— (pre-modify the noun with a noun adjective) morning is misty and cold. There is dense fog
(b) —— (post-modify the verb). The sun rises (c) —— (post-modify verb) in the morning. People wear (d)
—— (pre-modify the noun) clothes. They get comforts (e) —— (post-modify the verb with an infinitive)
in the sun. Those who don’t have clothes suffer from (f) —— (pre-modify the noun) cold. Sometimes,
the fog is so dense even things at a distance can (g) —— (pre-modify the verb) be seen. People like (h)
—— (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) in doors. The fog disappears when the sun rises up. Dew
drops (i) ——, (post-modify the noun with a prepositional phrase) look like pearls. Rural people gather
around the fire (j) —— (post-modify the verb with an infinitive phrase).

Answer: a) winter b) everywhere c) late d) warm e) to bake f) dangerous g) hardly h) to sit i)

on the grasses j) to bake themselves

13.Ayesha Begum has three sons and two daughters. Her husband was a (a) —— (pre-modify the noun)
farmer who used (b) —— (post-modify the verb by using infinitive) on other people’s land. With great
effort they married (c) —— (use a pronoun) daughters off by the time they reached teenage. The sons
also began (d) —— (use present participle to modify the verb) with their father as (e) —— (pre-modify
the noun with a noun adjective) labourers when they were old enough to help. By the time they were
seventeen, they left for towns (f) —— (use infinitive to post-modify the verb) money. At first they used
to send money to their parents (g) —— (use an adverb to post-modify the verb) but after getting
married they barely had enough to support their (h) —— (pre-modify the noun) families. Out of
desperation, Ayesha Begum started (i) —— (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) in the village to feed
her old, (j) —— (pre-modify the noun) husband and herself.

Answer: a) poor, landless b) to cultivate, to work c) their d) working e) day f) to earn g)

timely, monthly h) own i) to work, to beg j) sick, helpless

14.Once there lived a (a) —— (use a pre-modifier of the noun) woodcutter. But he was (b) —— (use an
intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) honest. He earned his livelihood by cutting wood and selling
them in the market. One day while he was cutting wood near a pond, suddenly (c) —— (use a possessive
to pre-modify the noun) axe slipped from his hand and fell into the water and soon it sank (d) —— (use
a prepositional phrase). The woodcutter could not find any way to get back his axe. He sat by the side of
the pond (e) —— (post-modify the verb with an adverb). He was thinking how he could cut wood
without axe and maintain (f) —— (use a possessive to pre-modify the noun) family. Then a (g) —— (pre-
modify the noun) incident took place. A (h) —— (use a pre-modifier of the noun) fairy was passing near
the pond. She saw the woodcutter (i) —— (use a present participle to post-modify the verb) by the
pond. She asked him with a sweet voice. “Why are you (j) —— (use an intensifier to premodify the
adjective) sad? What happened to you?”

Answer: a) poor b) very c) his d) down in the river e) sadly, helplessly, emotionally f) his g)
strange h) water i) sitting, crying j) very

15.Road accident is a common phenomenon in (a) —— (use possessive to pre-modify the noun) country.
It occurs almost every day. Consequently, people have to face (b) —— (premodify the noun) death. I
saw a terrible road accident (c) —— (post-modify the verb). A Dhakabound bus (d) —— (pre-modify the
verb) collided with a Chittagongbound bus in Comilla. (e) —— (use quantifier to pre-modify the noun)
died on the spot. (f) —— (use demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) passengers (g) ——(use past
participle to postmodify the noun) in the accident were immediately hospitalized. (h) —— (pre-modify
the noun) scream was heard from every corner. (i) —— (use determiner to pre-modify the noun) road
was covered with blood. The police surrounded the whole area. They were investigating the spot. I could
not sleep (j) —— (post-modify the verb) last night.

Answer: a) our b) premature, untimely, sudden c) yesterday, last week d) greatly e) some,
many f) those g) injured, wounded h) a i) the j) properly, peacefully, fully