🔤 Grammar Guide: Modifiers
Using adjectives, adverbs, and phrases clearly
Introduction | Common Sentence Errors | Nouns | Pronouns | Verbs | Modifiers | Prepositions | Conjunctions | Glossary and Resources
A modifier describes, limits, or adds meaning to another word or group of words.
Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. They often tell what kind, which one, or how many.
Examples:
a clear sentence
that proposal
three meetings
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often tell how, when, where, how often, or to what degree.
Examples:
The committee voted quickly.
The report was unusually long.
The speaker answered very carefully.
Phrases can also work as modifiers.
Examples:
The house on the corner needs repairs.
The proposal discussed at the meeting was revised.
Modifiers are small words or groups of words, but they can change the meaning of a sentence. A modifier should make a sentence more precise, not more confusing.
Modifiers should be close enough to the words they modify so readers can tell what they describe. The main questions are: What does the modifier describe? Is it close enough to that word? Does it add useful meaning?
Avoiding dangling modifiers
A dangling modifier unintentionally describes someone or something that is missing from the sentence or not named where readers expect it. The sentence begins as if it is describing one person or thing, but the subject that follows does not match.
When a sentence begins with a modifying phrase, make sure the next words name the person or thing the phrase describes.
Problem:
After reviewing the proposal, several concerns remained.
Better:
After reviewing the proposal, the committee still had several concerns.
The original sentence makes it sound as if the concerns reviewed the proposal. The better sentence names who reviewed it.
Problem:
Walking through the park, the monument came into view.
Better:
Walking through the park, we saw the monument.
The original sentence makes it sound as if the monument was walking through the park. The better sentence names who was walking.
Placing modifiers clearly
Put a modifier where readers can easily tell what it describes.
Problem:
The council discussed the proposal at the meeting that would raise fees.
Better:
At the meeting, the council discussed the proposal that would raise fees.
The original sentence could make readers wonder whether the meeting or the proposal would raise fees.
Problem:
She almost reviewed every application.
Better:
She reviewed almost every application.
The original sentence suggests she nearly reviewed the applications but did not. The better sentence says she reviewed most of them.
Using adjectives and adverbs correctly
Use adjectives to modify nouns and pronouns. Use adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
Many adverbs end in -ly: clearly, quickly, carefully, and strongly. But not every adverb ends in -ly, and not every -ly word works the same way. When in doubt, check a dictionary to see how the word is used.
Problem:
The report was written clear.
Correct:
The report was written clearly.
Problem:
The proposal seems clearly.
Correct:
The proposal seems clear.
Some verbs, such as is, seems, feels, and looks, can link the subject to a description. In those sentences, use an adjective.
Avoiding unnecessary modifiers
Modifiers should add meaning. Too many modifiers can make a sentence sound padded, vague, or weaker than a simpler sentence.
Wordy:
The committee held a very lengthy and extremely detailed discussion about the proposed new policy.
Better:
The committee held a lengthy discussion about the proposed policy.
Be careful with modifiers such as very, extremely, really, and highly. They often add emphasis without adding information. Consider replacing vague emphasis with a more specific word or meaningful detail.
Weak:
The situation is very dangerous.
Stronger:
The situation is dangerous.
The situation is life-threatening.
Do not use a modifier to prop up a word that is already strong, absolute, or nearly absolute.
Weak:
The proposal is very unique.
Better:
The proposal is unique.
The proposal is unusual.
The proposal is one of a kind.
Do not remove useful details. Remove modifiers that repeat, exaggerate, or add little meaning.
Introduction | Common Sentence Errors | Nouns | Pronouns | Verbs | Modifiers | Prepositions | Conjunctions | Glossary and Resources