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Modifiers

The document explains how modifiers can strengthen or weaken adjectives and nouns, providing examples of their usage. It highlights specific collocations and rules for using modifiers like 'a bit,' 'very,' and 'hardly' with different types of words. Additionally, it advises against certain combinations to ensure proper grammatical structure.

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Anastasia Kyrychuk
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3 views2 pages

Modifiers

The document explains how modifiers can strengthen or weaken adjectives and nouns, providing examples of their usage. It highlights specific collocations and rules for using modifiers like 'a bit,' 'very,' and 'hardly' with different types of words. Additionally, it advises against certain combinations to ensure proper grammatical structure.

Uploaded by

Anastasia Kyrychuk
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Modifiers make the following word weaker or stronger

The area is a bit / quite / fairly / pretty / rather rough. ( = makes the adjective
weaker)

The port area is very / really / extremely rough. ( = stronger)

It was absolutely / really / completely deserted ( = stronger)

The place was a bit of a dump. ( = makes the noun weaker)

The place was a complete / right dump ( = stronger)

I hardly know him. ( = almost not)

The choice of modifier also depends on the kind of word that follows

 A bit usually goes with negative adjectives, so don't say:

It's a bit nice. It's quite nice.

A bit can't be used with nouns:

He's a bit idiot. He's a bit of an idiot.

 A bit of a/an makes a negative noun softer/less critical.

He's a bit of a moaner.

The situation is a bit of a mess.

 A bit too makes positive adjectives negative. It means things are excessive,
but not by much.

It was a bit too hot for my liking.


Very doesn't normally collocate with extreme adjectives that already contain the
idea of very. Use really or absolutely with adjectives like boiling, delicious,
stunning, filthy, spotless, freezing, etc.

Do not use absolutely with normal adjectives like hot, nice, bad, cold or good. Use
very or really instead.

 We often use not very/not particularly with positive adjectives to soften a


complaint.

It's not very warm in my room.

It wasn't particularly clean when we moved in.

 hardly goes with these words:

hardly any; hardly anywhere; hardly anyone; hardly ever; hardly anything

We don't normally use hardly on its own with a noun.

There was hardly entertainment. There was hardly any entertainment.

hardly doesn't go with other negatives.

We hardly didn't go to the beach. We hardly went to the beach.

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