Using Modifiers CorrectlyUsing Modifiers Correctly

What Is a Modifier?What Is a Modifier?

• Modifier – makes the meaning of a word or word group more specific. – Adjective modifies nouns and pronouns– Adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs

– TIP: If it’s a PA, use the adjective form. If it modifies the verb, use the adverb form.

Adjective: My, that was a quick flight.Adverb: The flight arrived quickly.

Trivia Question!Trivia Question!

GOODGOOD WELLWELL

Good & WellGood & Well

• “Good” is an adjective.• Use “well” to modify a verb.

TIP: “Well” can mean “in good health” or “satisfactory”TIP: Use “good” to mean “happy”

Examples

Alicia Keys plays the piano very (good, well).

Her SAT results were (good, well).

Raeshaun ate too much and isn’t feeling (good, well) today.

I felt (good, well) when I won the trophy.

Comparison of ModifiersComparison of Modifiers

Three Types of ModifiersThree Types of Modifiers

Most one-syllable modifiers use “-er” and “-est” to make comparative and superlative forms.

Positive Comparative SuperlativeOld Older Oldest

Hot Hotter Hottest

Quick Quicker Quickest

Three Types of ModifiersThree Types of Modifiers

Two-syllable modifiers use “-er” or “more” to make the comparative form and “-est” or “most” to make the superlative form.

Positive Comparative Superlativehappy happier happiest

thankful more thankful most thankful

cheerful more cheerful most cheerful

Three Types of ModifiersThree Types of Modifiers

Three-syllable modifiers use “more” to make the comparative form and “most” to make the superlative form.

Positive Comparative Superlativebeautiful more beautiful most beautiful

eagerly more eagerly most eagerly

skillfully more skillfully most skillfully

Three Types of ModifiersThree Types of Modifiers

To show decreasing comparisons, all modifiers form their comparative and superlative degrees with “less” and “least.”

Positive Comparative Superlativecolorful less colorful least colorful

proud less proud least proud

smoothly less smoothly least smoothly

Irregular ComparisonIrregular Comparison

Some modifiers do not form their comparative and superlative degrees using the usual methods.

Positive Comparative Superlativebad worse worst

well/good better best

many/much more most

Comparative & SuperlativeComparative & Superlative• Use comparative when comparing two things• Use superlative when comparing more than two.

Examples

• This piece of wood is (lighter, lightest) than that one.

• Of the three contestants, which one sings (better, best)?

• The North Star is the (brighter, brightest) star in the sky.

• Of the canary or the parakeet, which bird sings

(more sweetly, most sweetly)?

Some More TipsSome More Tips• Use “other” and “else” when comparing a member

of the group with the rest of the group– WRONG: Chang can run faster than anyone on the team.WRONG: Chang can run faster than anyone on the team.– RIGHT: Chang can faster than anyone RIGHT: Chang can faster than anyone elseelse on the team. on the team.

• Avoid double comparisons– WRONG: Houston, Texas, is more larger than Dallas.WRONG: Houston, Texas, is more larger than Dallas.– RIGHT: Houston, Texas, is RIGHT: Houston, Texas, is largerlarger than Dallas. than Dallas.

The Double The Double NegativeNegative

• The use of TWO negative words to express ONE negative idea– WRONG: We don’t have no chores left to do.WRONG: We don’t have no chores left to do.– RIGHT: We don’t have any chores left to do.RIGHT: We don’t have any chores left to do.– RIGHT: We have no chores left to do.RIGHT: We have no chores left to do.

– WRONG: He couldn’t scarcely believe it.WRONG: He couldn’t scarcely believe it.– RIGHT: He could scarcely believe it.RIGHT: He could scarcely believe it.– RIGHT: He couldn’t believe it.RIGHT: He couldn’t believe it.

DON’T USE DOUBLE DON’T USE DOUBLE NEGATIVES!NEGATIVES!

Placement of ModifiersPlacement of Modifiers• Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as near

as possible to the words they modify.– The astronaut showed pictures of his last flight The astronaut showed pictures of his last flight in outer in outer

space.space.– The astronaut The astronaut in outer space in outer space showed pictures of his last showed pictures of his last

flight.flight.– The astronaut showed pictures The astronaut showed pictures in outer space in outer space of his last of his last

flight.flight.

NOTE: Problems usually occur with prepositional phrases , participal phrases, and clauses.

NOTE: Problems usually occur with prepositional phrases , participal phrases, and clauses.

Placement of ModifiersPlacement of Modifiers

Placement of ModifiersPlacement of Modifiers

Ding Ding Ding! You are the winner!

"Well" Is Correct!

Oooh…better luck next time

“Good” is incorrect.