Lesson 5: Word and Phrase Modifiers | Easy English Subject

We have so far studied the basic pattern of sentences in English. We have seen how sentences may be expanded by adding modifiers. Modifiers may be words, phrases, or clauses. Modifiers may be added to nouns. When this is done, such a group of words is called a noun cluster.



A noun cluster is a group of words in which the principal word (headword) is a noun. The words found next to the noun are its modifiers. The modifiers may be words, phrases, or clauses.

Example:

The tall, lovely lady on my left, who is about to sing, is a movie personality.



The headword (head noun) is lady. Tall and lovely are word modifiers of the noun. With the noun they form a word noun cluster.

On my left is the phrase modifier of the noun. With the noun it forms a phrase noun cluster.

Who is about to sing is the clause modifier of the noun. With the noun it forms a clause noun modifier.

All these modifiers refer to lady and describe the noun lady.




Word modifiers com before the nouns they modify. Observe the position of graceful, hardworking, responsible, and beautiful in the following sentences.

1. The graceful dancers waved to us.
2. The hardworking employees stayed behind.
3. Teachers like responsible students.
4. We admire beautiful flowers.

Graceful and hardworking (called adjectives) are placed before the nouns dancers and employees in the subject position. The adjectives responsible and beautiful are placed before the nouns students and flowers in the object position.



A noun may give information about another noun and thus form a word noun cluster.

Examples:

1. The school bus is late.
2. That is a stone fence.
3. They enjoyed a pleasant home life.



If word modifiers in a series from a noun cluster, they are arranged in a specific manner: determiners-intensifiers-quality-shape-color-another noun-headword noun.



Study the following examples of word modifiers forming a noun cluster.

1. Determiners

     - a dozen
     - the
     - a

2. Intensifiers

     - very
     - rather
     - somewhat

3. Quality

     - pretty
     - bold
     - strict

4. Shape

     - tiny
     - little

5. Color

     - blue

6. Another noun

     - city
     - school

7. Headword noun

     - flowers
     - girl
     - teacher




A phrase modifier comes after the noun it modifies. Phrase noun modifiers are of three kinds: prepositional, infinitive, and participial.



A prepositional phrase is a group of two or more words of which the first word is a preposition abd the last word is a noun.

Example:

The flowers in the vase are lovely.
                          P-phrase
The symbol for the prepositional phrase is P-phrase.



An infinitive phrase is a group of two or more words of which the first word is the preposition to and the last word is a verb.

Example:

The work to be done seems interesting.
                       To - V
The symbol for the infinitive phrase is To - V.


A participial phrase is a group of two or more words beginning with a participle. A participle is a verb + ing (e.g., cry + ing, stay + ing, talk + ing).

Example:

A girl wearing a new dress walked in.
             V - ing
The symbolbfor forthe participial phrase is V-ing.



Next Lesson 》Verb Cluster | Lesson 6



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