Modifiers

Adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases are modifiers, words or groups of words that tell more about, or modify, other words in a sentence. Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives or adverbs. As Adjective The towel on top is mine. As Adverb A crab ran under a rock. To avoid confusion, place modifiers close to the words they modify. Adjective phrases usually come right after the word they modify. Adverb phrases may appear right after a verb or at the beginning of a sentence. The meaning of a sentence can be unclear if the modifier is misplaced. No: The girl set out a picnic in a red bathing suit. Yes: The girl in a red bathing suit set out a picnic. The position of only in a sentence can affect the sentences entire meaning. Place only directly before the word or words it modifies. Example: Only he ate oysters. (Nobody else ate them.) He only ate oysters. (He didnt do anything except eat.) He ate only oysters. (He ate nothing else.)

Directions Write adverb, adjective, or prepositional phrase to identify each underlined modifier. 1. I love a day at the beach. 2. A wave crashed loudly. 3. The sand is hot! 4. I see a tiny jellyfish! 5. One stung me on the foot. 6. That really hurt. Directions Each sentence has a misplaced modifier. Rewrite the sentence and put the word or phrase where it belongs. 7. My cousin joined us at the beach from Alaska.

Pearson Education

8. Children must be accompanied by an adult under 15 years of age.

9. Hildie got a bad sunburn in the car and cried.

Unit 6 At the Beach

Grammar

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