Showing posts with label modifers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label modifers. Show all posts

Proper Order of Modifiers


A MODIFIER comes after a noun. It could be an adjective, adverb or a clause or a phrase that acts as an adjective or an adverb. Modifiers add information to other elements and it follows a particular order and is divided by a comma.


You don't just say:
This is your long, second, work vacation. ---- the order of modifiers is WRONG


Below is the correct order of modifiers with their respective classifications: 



Order
Modifier
Examples
1
determiner
the, your
2
ordinals
first, second
3
cardinals
one, two
4
opinion
nice, easy, beautiful
5
size
small, large
6
measurement
short, long
7
condition
worn, tired
8
age
old, new
9
temperature
hot, cold
10
shape
round, square
11
color/pattern
green, striped
12
origin
Japanese, American
13
season/time
summer, noon
14
material
metal, wooden
15
power
electric, mechanical
16
location
bedroom, table
17
purpose
party, work


So, our sentence should be like this:
This is your second, long, work vacation.. --- the order of modifiers is CORRECT




MORE EXAMPLES:
WRONG
This is a hot, long summer.
CORRECT
This is a long, hot summer.
WRONG
He gave me an old, spring, over-sized, black jacket.
CORRECT
He gave me an over-sized, old, black, spring jacket.
WRONG
Who left a two-week-old, rotten, foul banana on my desk?
CORRECT
Who left a foul, rotten, two-week-old banana on my desk?

WRONG
This is my new, white, sleek iPad.
CORRECT
This is my sleek, new, white iPad.




source:
http://funeasyenglish.com/american-english-grammar-modifier.htm
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Common Errors with Sentence Fragments and Modifiers

Sentence Fragments

The sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as a sentence. To make it a complete sentence, join it to the main clause or rewrite it.



 Wrong: 
She is a good friend. A person whom I trust and admire.
 Right: 
She is a good friend, a person whom I trust and admire.



 Wrong: 
In the workshop, we learned the value of discipline. Also how to take good notes.
 Right: 
In the workshop, we learned the value of discipline. We also learned how to take good notes.



 Wrong: 
The old aluminum boat sitting on its trailer
 Right: 
The old aluminum boat was sitting on its trailer.



Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers

Misplaced or dangling modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses not clearly connected to the word they modify. Move a misplaced modifier closer to the word it describes, or revise a sentence to give a dangling modifier a word to modify.


 Wrong: 
They could see the eagles swooping and diving with binoculars.
 Right: 
With binoculars, they could see the eagles swooping and diving.



 Wrong: 
Nixon told reporters that he planned to get out of politics after he lost the 1962 gubernatorial race.
 Right: 
After he lost the 1962 gubernatorial race, Nixon told reporters that he planned to get out of politics. 



 Wrong: 
A rabbit’s teeth are never used for defense even when cornered.
 Right: 
Even when cornered, a rabbit never uses its teeth for defense.



 Wrong: 
As a young boy, his grandmother told stories of her years as a country schoolteacher.
 Right: 
As a young boy, he heard his grandmother tell stories of her years as a country schoolteacher.







source: Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

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