Modifiers Examples Adjectivesagile alligator AdverbThe alligator maneuvered agilely

Modifiers ØExamples: ØAdjectives—agile alligator ØAdverb—The alligator maneuvered agilely about the swamp. ØParticipial Phrases—Running up the stairs, the young fellow tripped on a banana peel. ØAdverbial Clause—When I was a chicken farmer, I quickly became a vegetarian.

8 Troublesome Modifiers Ø Bad—Adjective l You do bad things Ø Badly—Adverb l You do things badly

8 Troublesome Modifiers Ø Good—Adjective l Clowns make her feel good. Ø Well—Adverb l She drives well. Ø Slow—Adjective Ø Slowly—Adverb

8 Troublesome Modifiers Ø Real—Adjective l He bought a real leather jacket. Ø Really—Adverb Ø That’s really fun, not real fun Ø I’m doing really well, not real well Ø That’s really interesting, not real interestin’

Modifiers Ø Comparative—these modifiers offer comparison l l This carpet is softer than that carpet. We are comparing degree of softness. Ø Superlative--of the highest quality; surpassing all else or others; supreme. l l You’re the best. That is the finest car I have ever driven.

Comparison Modifiers Positive Comparative Ø Soft softer Ø add er Ø Freely Superlative softest add st more freely most freely less freely least freely Ø Some words don’t allow us simply to add er or st, so we modify with more (re) or most (st); or less or least.

Irregular Modifiers Ø These are called irregular modifiers b/c they do not work with er, st, more, most, etc. Ø Positive Ø Good Ø Many Comparative better more Superlative best most

Misplaced Modifiers Ø Undaunted, the storm did not prevent the crew from setting sail. Ø How can a storm be undaunted? Ø The storm did not prevent the undaunted crew from setting sail

Misplaced Modifiers Ø Uncle Carmine saw a deer bounding across the meadow on his way to work. Ø Why would a deer be on his way to work? Ø On his way to work, Uncle Carmine saw a deer bounding across a meadow.

Dangling Modifiers / Participles Ø Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned. Ø How can a trip select a college? Ø Having selected a college, my friend and I planned a trip to the campus.

Dangling Modifiers / Participles Ø While wrapping the gifts, Murphy, my pet terrier, kept trying to untie the bows. Ø What kind of a terrier can wrap gifts. Ø While I was wrapping the gifts, Murphy, my pet terrier, kept trying to untie the bows.