บทที่18 - ส่วนขยาย MODIFIERS

MODIFIERS

A modifier is a word or a group of words that describes or limits another word or group of words. It gives more details about the words it modifies. There are various types of modifier as mentioned above.

1. Adjectives and Adverbs (and their phrases)

An adjective modifies a noun or pronouns. An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Both these adjectives and adverbs can also be used to show their comparatives and superlatives. By adding –er, comparison can be made of two people or things, and by adding –est, more than two persons, things or places can be compared. Modifiers are usually placed next to the words they modify. v  An adjective modifies a noun EXAMPLE: There was a red kite high up in the cloudless sky. In the sentence, red is an adjective modifying the noun kite, and cloudless is an adjective modifying the noun sky. The word red tells us more about the kite, that is it is red in colour while cloudless describes the sky as having no cloud. Other examples of adjectives preceding the nouns they modify: small monkey, tall man, thick book. v  An adjective modifies a pronoun EXAMPLE: I was happy with the way things went. In this example, happy is an adjective modifying the pronoun I An adverb modifies a verb. EXAMPLE: She smiled broadly at me. In this example, broadly modifies the verb smiled. It answers the question "How did she smile?" v  An adverb modifies an adjective. EXAMPLE: They agree she is a very intelligent woman. In this example, the adverb very modifies the adjective intelligent. v  An adverb modifies an adverb. EXAMPLE: Her pulse seemed exceptionally fast. This example shows an adverb modifying another adverb. Exceptionally is an adverb, so is fast. Further examples: Verbs Adverbs He works on his own. He works more efficiently on his own. They dig to get at the roots. They dig deep to get at the roots. We ate lots of nice food. We ate up lots of nice food. Adjectives Adverbs She is happy on her new bicycle. She is very happy on her new bicycle. He talks in a soft voice. He talks in a really soft voice. We were patient with him. We were extremely patient with him. Adverbs Adverbs Joe finishes his homework quickly. Joe finishes his homework pretty quickly. He came immediately when I called. He came almost immediately when I called. She ran fast in the race. She ran amazingly fast in the race. Note: Adverbs commonly end in –ly but not all. Examples are fast, here, there, etc. Some adjectives end in –ly, examples of which are: friendly, heavenly, etc. Functions of adverbs Adverb tells us: how often something happens EXAMPLE: I always have a glass of milk before I go to bed. in what manner something happens EXAMPLE: She speaks loudly. the place something happens EXAMPLE: My bunch of car keys is on the table. the time something happens EXAMPLE: Yesterday we went to the cinema. the intensity something happens EXAMPLE: The patient is breathing very heavily. Adjectival and adverbial phrases An adjectival phrase is a phrase that is comprised of more than one word, and is used to modify a noun or pronoun. This modifier usually is placed next to the noun it modifies as follow: EXAMPLE: The meal in the restaurant was really delicious. The phrase in the restaurant modifies the meal. It tells us about the meal and where it is available. Adverbial phrases are used as modifiers. They must be easily identifiable with the word they modify. EXAMPLE: They were highly delighted at the court's decision. This example tells about their feeling which arose from the court's decision. The adverb modifier is highly which describes how they felt. This word modifies the adjective delighted in the sentence. The adverbial phrase at the court's decision tells us more about the legal process.

2. Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives can be either adjectives or adverbs. They are used to compare two persons, things or places. Comparatives are created by adding –er to either an adjective or adverb. Superlatives are used to compare more than two people, things or places, and mostly created by adding –est to adjectives or some adverbs. However, if the word ends in –y, make the comparative by changing the y to i and then add –er or -est Word Comparative Superlative clever cleverer cleverest fat fatter fattest tall taller tallest happy happier happiest hairy hairier hairiest pretty prettier prettiest Word Comparative Superlative bad, badly worse worst beautiful more beautiful most beautiful far (additional) further furthest far (distance) farther farthest good/well better best intelligent more intelligent most intelligent kindly kindlier kindliest little less least more more most old (age) older oldest old (position in family) elder eldest Word Comparative Superlative sweet (adjective) sweeter sweetest sweet (adverb) more sweetly most sweetly The common mistake made is adding more to comparative or most to superlative. EXAMPLE:  weaker – more weaker – most weakest (INCORRECT)  weaker – weaker – weakest (CORRECT)

3. Emphasis Words

Emphasis words are used to emphasize an adjective or adverb. They do not make use of comparatives or superlatives when making comparison of adjectives or adverbs. Often, grammatical mistakes are made when adjectives are used instead of adverbs, and vice versa. Real is an adjective, really is an adverb. EXAMPLE:  The government is aware of the real problems that these people face. (CORRECT – real is an adjective used to describe the noun problems.) EXAMPLE: The government is aware of the really problems that these people face. (INCORRECT – really is an adverb; an adverb does not modify a noun) EXAMPLE:  We don't know what real happened. (INCORRECT – adjective does not modify verb.) EXAMPLE: We don't know what really happened. (CORRECT – adverb modifying verb.) Certain is adjective; certainly is adverb. EXAMPLE:  Not smoking has certainly made a real difference. (CORRECT – certainly is an adverb and it modifies the verb made) EXAMPLE: Not smoking has certain made a real difference. (INCORRECT – certain is an adjective and an adjective does not modify a verb.) EXAMPLE:  Are you quite certainly about what happened? (INCORRECT) EXAMPLE: Are you quite certain about what happened? (CORRECT)

4. Misplaced Modifiers and Dangling Particles

These are modifiers that are not clearly identified with the words they modify. The closer a modifier is to the word it modifies, the clearer a sentence will be. EXAMPLES: I sitting on the couch, watching television. (INCORRECT) Sitting on the couch, I watch television. (CORRECT) Having seen the movie once, there is no reason to see it again. (INCORRECT) Having seen the movie once, I have no reason to see it again. (CORRECT) Looking at the neighbour, the telephone rang. (INCORRECT – it appears the telephone was looking at the neighbour.) I was looking at the neighbour when the telephone rang. (CORRECT)

5. Nouns as Modifiers

A noun can be used as a modifier to tell us a bit more about the noun it modifies. The modifier, in all cases, immediately precedes the noun. When a noun is used as a modifier, it is in its singular form, as indicated by the following examples: Chicken/tomato/vegetable + soup – We had a warm tomato soup as a starter. Cargo/enemy/container/pirate + ship – It took an hour for the dockers to load the cargo ship. Language/business/village + school – She's a language school teacher. Gift/shoe + shop – The gift shop also offers a large selection of leather goods at reasonable prices. Police/sheep/family/farm + dog – The police dog was sniffing round his heels. Brick/concrete/stone/wooden/airport/church/factory/farm/office + building – We are renovating the old farm buildings after they were gutted by fire. Hospital + bed – He lay in the hospital bed, reading his book. University + laboratory – They are simulating the effects of weathering in the university laboratory. Farm/country/council/mansion/tree/summer + house – They rented a council house when they got married. When a noun used as a modifier is combined with a number expression, the noun is singular and a hyphen is used, as follow: Half-timbered house – They build their own half-timbered house overlooking the river. One-man – He does a one-man show in an open-air theatre. OR His one-man business is expanding fast. Two-seater aircraft – The pilot overshot the runway and crashed his two-seater aircraft. Three-day event – The three-day horse riding event will take place next week. Four-bed house – They lived in a four-bedroom house in the suburbs. Five-month contract – He has got a five-month contract to work on an offshore oil rig. Six-year sentence – He will have to serve a six-year sentence for burglary. Seven-girl band – She plays in a seven-girl rock band. Eight-room mansion – The historic eight-room mansion stands in 60 acres of parkland. 100-year-old – The 100-year-old mansion stands in 60 acres of parkland.