Basic Details
Word: Modifier
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: In grammar, a word or group of words that describes or limits another word, such as an adjective (red kite) or an adverb (ran fast).
How to Spell Modifier
Syllables: mod - i - fi - er
Tricky part: The two middle syllables both carry an i: mod-i-fi-er. The y of modify becomes i before er, so modifyer is wrong.
Watch out for: modifyer, modifer, modefier
Memory tip: Copy gives copier and carry gives carrier; modify gives modifier in the same way. The person or thing that modifies is a modif-i-er.
Usage Examples
Example 1: In the phrase 'a very tall tower', very and tall are both modifiers.
Example 2: Our grammar test had a question on spotting the modifier in each sentence.
Example 3: A misplaced modifier can make a sentence sound silly, so place it next to the word it describes.
Fun Fact
A dangling modifier is one with nothing sensible to describe, as in 'Walking to school, the rain started.' It sounds as if the rain was walking.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. modifyer 2. punctuation 3. paragraph 4. syllable
a) a unit of sound in a word with one vowel sound
b) marks such as commas and full stops used in writing
c) a word or phrase that describes or limits another word
d) a section of writing that begins on a new line
Show answer
c) a word or phrase that describes or limits another word. Modifyer is the misspelt one; before er, the y of modify changes to i.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
m_d_fier
a) o, i
b) o, e
c) u, i
d) a, i
Show answer
a) o, i. The word starts with mod, as in model, and the next vowel is i: mod-i-fi-er.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
In the phrase 'a bright kite', the word bright is a rmifoide of the noun.
a) modifies
b) modified
c) modifier
d) mortified
Show answer
c) modifier. Only modifier ends in r; modified would need a second d and modifies an s, which the jumble does not have.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In 'She sang sweetly', which word is the modifier?
a) she
b) sang
c) sweetly
d) none of them
Show answer
c) sweetly
2. A modifier gives more information about ____.
a) the page number
b) the writer's name
c) the full stop
d) another word
Show answer
d) another word
