Modifiers1. The poor horse has a heavy load. 2. The train runs rapidly. 3. Admiral Dewey is a man of courage. 4. The time for play has passed. 5. What is the name of the book which you are reading? 6. While he was still speaking, several persons left the hall. In the above sentences, the words poor and heavy qualify or limit the meaning of the words horse and load; rapidly limits runs; of courage describes man; for play modifies or limits time; which you are reading modifies or limits hook; while he was still speaking modifies or limits left. What kind of modifiers are poor and heavy? What kind of modifier is rapidly? What kind of modifiers are of courage, and for play? What kind of modifiers are which you are reading, and while he was still speaking? How do these last two modifiers differ? We see from what has just been studied that the groups of words used as modifiers make either phrases or clauses. (See modifier, p. 9.) Modifiers may be either adjective or adverbial, according to the kind of words modified. Point out the modifiers in the following sentences, tell what kind of modifiers they are, and the words that they modify: 1. The old trees were covered with rough bark. 2. The flowers which we gathered were a delight to the eye. 3. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. 4. We planted the trees where the soil was deep. 5. It is obvious why you did not come. 6. A swift little brook flowed over the pebbles. 7. I bought the book which you recommended. 8. In a clear winter night the stars shine like diamonds. 9. The roar of the lion was heard in the distance. 10. While the robbers were plundering, she set fire to the house. Write three sentences having adjectives for modifiers both in the subject and predicate, three having adjective phrases, and three having adjective clauses. Write three sentences having adverbs for modifiers, three having adverbial phrases, and three having adverbial clauses. Find all the adjective modifiers on some page of your reader. Write the words, phrases, and clauses used as adjective modifiers, in separate columns. Do the same work for the adverbial modifiers on the same page.
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