Chapter 2

Modifiers
Learning Objectives

1. Identify the characteristics of sentences using noun modifiers.

2. Describe the social function, structure and language features of
sentences using noun modifiers.
3. Compose written and oral sentence using noun modifiers.
 Modifiers

We have to know the noun modifiers, I’m sure that you have already
known about the modifiers, but sometimes we forget the way to do
that:

Prepositional Phrase Adjective Clause

How do you differentiate both of them?

 Prepositional Phrase
• Prepositional phrase is a
group of words containing
preposition.
•A prepositional phrase
functions as a unified part of
speech. It normally consists
of a preposition and a noun or
a preposition and a pronoun.
Ex:
➢He went to the living room
to find his car key.
➢ Have you ever met the
lady with a scar on her right
hand?
Prepositional Phrase
a. Means: by
The teacher explains the
lesson clearly by setting
examples.
b. Purpose: for
Mona is born in a small
village.
c. Time: in, on, at
We like to go to the beach at
the summer.
d. Addition: besides
A doctor must have good
personality besides
knowledge.
e. Cause: because of, from
Christiano Ronaldo went to
Amsterdam because of his
injured ankle.
f. Place: between, among,
in, on, at
She is standing between
those two old men.
Prepositional Phrase

Description Time Location Direction

in the blue during the rain outside the to the sea
overcoat house
with a red tie at night on the rooftop from school
in short pants on Saturday near the across the
window street
with a smiling until the end of inside the into the room
face the day cupboard
Prepositional Phrase

A prepositional phrase Examples:

functions as an • The book with the plastic cover
adjective or adverb. has been read many times.
(adjective)
• Without a GPS, we will lose our
way in the town. (adverb)
• The tiger crept slowly behind
the tree. (adverb)
Terminology
• Words: the smallest meaningful
bits of a sentence.
• Each word has their own class.
A verb tells what happens.
A noun names things.
An adjective modifies a noun.
• Clause: the basic unit of
English grammar
• A clause is made up of
at least a subject and a
verb.
• A sentence may consist
of one or more clauses.
Adjective/Relative Clause

To describe things or to Examples:

give additional information. ➢ An English newspaper which
A relative pronoun is was published in August has
usually used to introduce become famous.
and adjective clause. ➢ Chasing someone who
The words which, that, committed graft.
whose, whom and who in ➢ The man who is standing next
the examples are relative to the standing lamp is my
pronouns. teacher.
Kinds of Adjective Clauses

1. Non-defining Clauses Ex.:

The information is People Power, which toppled
additional and the corrupt regime of Ferdinand
unessential. Marcos in 1986, was very
phenomenal.
The clauses always begin
The information in a clause
and end with a comma. between commas is considered
The determiner that is not unessential to be stated. People
used in these clauses. Power was a phenomenal group
so readers/listeners will know
what group is referred to.
Kinds of adjective clauses

2. Defining clauses Ex.:

The information is Corruption in India is a major
important to give issue that adversely affect its
readers/listeners a clue. economy.
Don’t use commas and The clause gives important
use that as the information that as a major
determiner. issue in India, corruption
strongly influences India’s
economy.
Finite vs Non-finite Clauses
Finite Clauses Non-finite Clause
Can be main clauses or Always subordinate clauses.
subordinate clauses. Verbs used don’t showed the
Time of action can be seen from time of action.
the verb used.
Ex.: It aims to help
Ex.: The demonstrations feel the developing countries recover
spirit of People Power which assets stolen by corrupt
succeeded in throwing the corrupt leaders.
regime of Ferdinand Marcos in
1986.