Complete Modifier Classification with
Examples
Pre-modify the noun
a (pre-modify the noun) fox → a cunning fox (Dhaka Board)
a (pre-modify the noun) thing → a wonderful thing (Dhaka Board)
essential elements (Rajshahi Board)
serious concern (Rajshahi Board)
extreme risk (Rajshahi Board)
sea level (Rajshahi Board)
foreign nations (Travel)
true friends (Books)
resourceful house (Library)
glass almirahs (Library)
healthy growth (Dinajpur Board)
young boy → 'young' modifies 'boy'
bright sun → 'bright' modifies 'sun'
Post-modify the verb
walked carefully (Dhaka Board)
listened attentively (Dhaka Board)
is rising alarmingly (Rajshahi Board)
by sitting at home (Travel)
know everything clearly (Books)
arranged properly (Library)
crowded in the afternoon (Library)
work sincerely (Dinajpur Board)
speaks softly → 'softly' modifies 'speaks'
left quickly → 'quickly' modifies 'left'
Pre-modify the adjective
deeply unhappy (Dhaka Board)
completely useless (Dhaka Board)
very important (Travel)
extremely difficult → 'extremely' modifies 'difficult'
quite beautiful → 'quite' modifies 'beautiful'
Post-modify the verb with an infinitive
invited to attend (Dhaka Board)
agreed to cut (Dhaka Board)
help us to gain (Books)
help us to improve (Books)
decided to leave → 'to leave' explains 'decided'
went to buy books → 'to buy books' modifies 'went'
Use an appositive
Trees, the green friends of nature, (Rajshahi Board)
My brother, a talented musician, won the prize.
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is crowded.
Use an infinitive phrase
to see the unseen (Travel)
to plant the saplings (Dinajpur Board)
to win the prize → infinitive phrase as purpose
to make a difference → modifies action
Use a present participle phrase
By planting trees (Rajshahi Board)
reading books (Books)
studying in all classes (Library)
Walking through the forest, he found peace.
Running late, she skipped breakfast.
Use a noun adjective
sea level (Rajshahi Board)
library card (Library)
tree plantation (Dinajpur Board)
academic books (Books)
gold ring → 'gold' modifies 'ring'
stone wall → 'stone' modifies 'wall'
Use a determiner to pre-modify the noun
no tail (Dhaka Board)
an inborn curiosity (Travel)
the environment (Dinajpur Board)
a united effort (Dinajpur Board)
many students → 'many' determines 'students'
every man → 'every' modifies 'man'
Use a prepositional phrase
of all types (Library)
for general reading (Library)
in the morning → modifies verb or noun
with a smile → adds detail to verb
Use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun phrase
this noble campaign (Dinajpur Board)
that red car → 'that' modifies 'car'
those old books → 'those' modifies 'books'
Intensifier
very interesting book → 'very' intensifies 'interesting'
extremely hot day → 'extremely' intensifies 'hot'
absolutely wrong decision → 'absolutely' adds emphasis
Adverbial
He spoke loudly. → 'loudly' modifies 'spoke'
They arrived late. → 'late' modifies 'arrived'
She smiled warmly. → 'warmly' is an adverbial
Adverbial Phrase
He ran with great speed. → adverbial phrase
They worked in silence. → phrase modifying 'worked'
She danced with joy. → phrase describing how
Adjective Phrase
The boy wearing a blue cap is my brother.
The house made of wood looks old.
The lady dressed in red is my aunt.
Adjective Clause
The girl who won the prize is my sister.
The book that you gave me is interesting.
The man whom I met is a doctor.
Noun Phrase
The tall boy with a red shirt came first.
A bunch of flowers was on the table.
The newly constructed building collapsed.
Noun Clause
What he said was surprising.
I don’t know where she lives.
That she passed made me happy.