Modifiers

†hfv‡e cÖkœ n‡e :

 Read the following text and use modifiers in the blank spaces as directed. 0510 = 5
I experienced a very interesting incident (a) — (Post-modify the verb.) on my way to Dinajpur. My friend
Tamalika, (b) — (post-modify the noun with an appositive.) was driving. A cow was crossing the road but
suddenly in the middle of the road it stopped and remained standing. In a minute Tamalika had to change
her course but she didn't have (c) — (pre-modify the noun.) time and space to do that. Tamalika tried to turn
in the left when the cow too walked (d) — (post-modify the verb.) back a few steps. To save (e) — (Use a
demonstrative to pre-modify the noun.) cow Tamalika had to move in the right. She lost her control and
bumped the car with a (f) — (Use a noun adjective to pre-modify the noun.) tree. (g) — (Use a participle to
pre-modify the verb.) Tamalika was shocked but she was (h) — (Use an intensifier to pre-modify the adjective.)
happy (i) — (Use an infinitive phrase to post-modify the verb). She patted the (j) — (Pre-modify the noun) cow
and burst into laughter.
[NCTB Sample Question]
†hfv‡e DËi wjL‡Z n‡e :
cix¶v_©xiv Number D‡jÐLc–e©K Modifier e¨envi K‡i Gap c–iY Ki‡e| cÖwZwU mwVK I A_©c–Y© Dˇii Rb¨ 0.5 Marks cÖ`vb Kiv n‡e| †gvU
Marks _vK‡e 05|

Solution: (a) last week (b) a famous athlete (c) enough (d) slowly (e) that (f) jackfruit
(g) Seeing the damage in her new car (h) very (i) to save the cow (j) naughty

wb‡Pi Passage wU j¶ Ki :
Pahela Baishakh bears a (a) special significance to us. The day is celebrated (b) enthusiastically all over the world.
It is a (c) unique festival to the people of all classes and communities in Bangladesh. On (d) this day the
shopkeepers open their new accounts book and celebrate it through arranging Halkhata festival. They invite their
customers and clients (e) offering sweetmeats in (f) different places. The village people of all classes enjoy them (g)
very much. In the capital city the day opens with the celebration of Chhayanat, (h) a leading cultural organisation.
The Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University brings out a (i) colourful procession wearing various masks. They
welcome the day in a very (j) gorgeous way.

Dc‡ii Passage wU‡Z (a) special (adjective), significance (noun) Gi c–‡e© e‡m Gi m¤•‡K© AwZwi³ Z_¨ cÖ`vb K‡i‡Q; (b)
enthusiastically (adverb), celebrated (verb) Gi c‡i e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; (c) unique (adjective), festival (noun) Gi c–
‡e© e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; (d) this (demonstrative), day (noun) Gi c–‡e© e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; (e) offering (participle),
invite (verb) Gi c‡i e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; (f) different (adjective), places (noun) Gi c–‡e© e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; (g) very
(intensifier), much (adjective) Gi c–‡e© e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; (h) a leading cultural organization (appositive),
Chhayanat (noun) Gi c‡i e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q| (i) colourful (adjective), procession (noun) Gi c–‡e© e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ
K‡i‡Q; (j) gorgeous (adjective), way (noun) Gi c–‡e© e‡m G‡K we‡klvwqZ K‡i‡Q; G‡`i‡K modifiers e‡j|

myZivs †`Lv hv‡”Q, †hme word, phrase ev clause Ab¨ †Kvb word, phrase ev clause m¤•‡K© AwZwi³ Z_¨ cÖ`vb Ki‡Z e¨eüZ nq, Zv‡`i
modifiers e‡j|
Position of Modifiers
Modifiers †h kã‡K modify K‡i Zvi Av‡M ev c‡i em‡Z cv‡i| Ae¯’vb Abyhvqx modifiers †K `yB fv‡M fvM Kiv hvq| h_v

(i) Pre-modifiers (ii) Post-modifiers

†hme modifiers, modified element ev k‡ãi c–‡e© e‡m Zv‡`i modify K‡i, †mme modifiers †K pre modifiers e‡j|

Post modifiers
†hme modifiers, modified element ev k‡ãi c‡i e‡m Zv‡`i modify K‡i, †mme modifiers †K post-modifiers e‡j|
Practice
1 Find out the modifiers used in the sentences.
(i) Elderly people are the seasoned section of our society. They play important roles that are very helpful for the
next generation. So, they should not be treated with disrespect. They should be provided with all kinds of
human right. We are the young generation. We can extend our helping hand towards the elders. Social
awareness can be raised for the old.
Shuchi Maam – Lecturer, English. Z. Rahman Premier Bank College. Cell: 01946716915
(ii) Traffic jam is a common affair in urban life. It is one of the major problems of our country. This problem often
occurs in the congested areas of the busy cities. Traffic jam occurs for many causes. The numbers of licensed
vehicles is increasing by leaps and bounds that should be controlled.

(iii) Eid-ul-Fitr is a religious festival of the Muslims. We eagerly await this day after having a fasting for thirty
days. The day is celebrated with religious gravity. People get up early in the morning. People say eid prayer
with congregation. They eat special dishes on this day.

Uses of Pre-modifiers

(i) Noun Gi c–‡e© k–b¨¯’vb _vK‡j, †mLv‡b Determiner, Predeterminer, Present Participle, Past Participle, Adjective, Ab¨
†Kv‡bv Noun ev Nominal Compound em‡Z cv‡i|
(a) Determiner :
The boys and girls are walking side by side. Determiner : Determiner n‡”Q Ggb wKQz kã †hMy‡jv Noun ev Noun phrase
Sabbir is an ideal student. [DinajB '17] Gi c–‡e© e‡m Noun ev Noun phrase My‡jvi msL¨v, cwigvY ev †mMy‡jvi wbw`©óZv wb‡`©k
He has some good qualities. [BB '17] K‡i| Determiner mvaviYZ wbæiƒc nq:
Here a nutritionist can help us. [CB '17]
Most of the people in our country do not know Articles : a/an, the
the importance of English. [JB '16] Demonstratives : this, that, these, those, which
(b) Predeterminer : Possessives : my, your, his, her, our, their, its, whose, Rahim’s,
Karim’s etc
All the boys except two are present. Quantifiers : (a) few, fewer, (a) little, many, most, much, more, some,
Both the books are out of print. any etc.
All my friends came to the party. Numbers : one, two. three etc.
Either of the pens will do. Ordinals : first, second, third, 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc
Neither of the boys got the prize. Predeterminer : Predeterminer †Kv‡bv determiner Gi c–‡e© e‡m H determiner
(c) Present Participle : ‡K modify K‡i A_ev Zvi cieZ©x noun m¤c‡K© Av‡iv Z_¨ †`q| †hgb: All their
The boy got into the running train. belongings were captured. GLv‡b ‘their’ GKwU determiner hvi c–‡e© ‘all’ kãwU e‡m
He noticed a flying bird in the sky. ‘their’ ‡K modify Ki‡Q| myZivs GwU GKwU Predeterminer|
A darkening sky may bring showers. Predeterminer My‡jv n‡”Q : all, any, another, both, each, either, every, few,
They need wood for building houses. little, many, more, much, neither, other, some, several, such BZ¨vw`|
A barking dog seldom bites.
(d) Past Participle : Present Participle: Verb Gi g–j iƒ‡ci mv‡_ ‘ing’ †hvM K‡i Present participle
The injured students were sent to hospital. MVb Kiv nq|| GwU ev‡K¨ g–jZ ‘adjective/ adverb’ wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i Ges active Gi gZ
A burnt child dreads the fire. A_© cÖKvk K‡i| wb‡Pi D`vniYMy‡jv †`L:
The ants eat their stored food in winter. Rana get into the running bus.
The worried man could not attend the guests. Rumi noticed a flying bird in the sky.
The destroyed bridge should be repaired.
Present Participle Phrase: Present Participle Phrase ev‡K¨ adjective
(e) Adjective :
wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i| GwU v1 + ing + Ab¨ kã †hv‡M MwVZ nq| †hgb:
A village doctor is a very familiar person in the Going to the nearest market I bought a mobile phone. GLv‡b †gvUv A¶‡i †jLv
rural areas of Bangladesh. [JB '17] Ask ‘Going’ GKwU Present Participle Ges underline Kiv cy‡iv AskwU GKwU Present
Rabindranath Tagore was a great poet of Participle Phrase|
Bengali literature. [DB '16]
An intelligent girl worked out the sum in a few Adjective: †Kv‡bv noun †K eY©bv Kivi Rb¨ †h kã e¨envi Kiv nq Zv n‡jv adjective|
minutes. †hgb :
Shefali is a beautiful girl. Manik is an honest cowboy. He has a black cow.
The old man is helpless.
(f) Noun : Adverb: †h word My‡jv verb wKfv‡e m¤cbœ nq Zv eY©bv K‡i Zv‡K Adverb e‡j| †hgb:
The sea level is rising and many parts of the He showed really a wonderful attitude.
She completely rejected his proposal.
world are going to be engulfed by the sea in
near future. [DB '17] Noun Adjective: †Kv‡bv noun hLb Ab¨ noun Gi c–‡e© e‡m D³ noun †K eY©bv K‡i
He was a rebel poet. [SB '17] ZLb Zv‡K Noun Adjective e‡j| †hgb: He bought a leather bag. GB ev‡K¨ leather
His literary works have enriched Bengali noun wU bag noun Gi c–‡e© e‡m Zvi eY©bv w`‡”Q| GwU GKwU Noun Adjective|
literature. [SB '17]
We went to the football stadium yesterday. Nominal Compound: `ywU g–j kã‡K †hvM K‡i compound words MVb Kiv nq|
Sakib Al Hasan is a famous cricket player. GKwU Noun Gi m‡½ Avi GKwU Noun, GKwU Noun Ges GKwU Adjective, GKwU Noun
(g) Nominal compound : Ges GKwU Verb, GKwU Gerund Ges GKwU Noun, GKwU Adverb Ges GKwU Noun †hv‡M
She is a record-breaking typist. GB Nominal Compound MVb Kiv hvq| wb‡Pi D`vniYMy‡jv j¶ Ki:
Mark the wheat-producing countries in the map. Steam Engine - Noun + Noun
Black Board - Adjective + Noun
Try to use this labour-saving method. Earth quake - Noun + Verb
We live in a two-storeyed building. Washing machine - Gerund + Noun
A low cost house is not easily available in Dhaka. Over confidence - Adverb + Noun

Practice
2. Fill in the gaps with pre modifiers.
Shuchi Maam – Lecturer, English. Z. Rahman Premier Bank College. Cell: 01946716915
 (a) — students are playing cricket in the field. (b) — my friends attended the party. (c) A — stone gathers no moss. (d) The
— people should educate the uneducated. (e) Everybody likes an — man. (f) Rana is working in the — garden. (g)
Bangladesh is one of the largest — countries in the world. (h) — boy who stood first is my brother. (i) She gave you a few
— papers. (j) Most of the — people are farmers.

(ii) Adjective Gi c–‡e© k–b¨¯’vb _vK‡j, †mLv‡b Intensifier/ Adverb em‡Z cv‡i| Intensifier : Intensifier n‡”Q †m mg¯@ kã †hMy‡jv
Raja is very gentle. [BB '17] †Kv‡bv adjective/ adverb Gi Dci evowZ †Rvi w`‡Z e¨envi
She felt very weak, almost giving up hope. [RB '16] Kiv nq| wKQy eûj e¨eüZ Intensifier My‡jv n‡”Q: very, at
Sumon was born in a highly educated family. all, absolutely, completely, highly, rather,
She lives in a nicely decorated house. extremely, too, really, quite BZ¨vw`|
Dhaka is a densely populated city.
Tiger are extremely storng.
(iii) Verb Gi c–‡e© k–b¨¯’vb _vK‡j, †mLv‡b Adverb em‡Z cv‡i|
Adverb :
He gets up early so that he can get enough time to study. [BB ' 17]
Sumon usually wakes up at six O'clock.
A village doctor generally sits in a small dispensary attached to his house.
Arsenic problem is seriously found in North Bengal.
We can easily store different kinds of data, records and information in computer.
Tea is now commonly used for the entertainment of guests in our country.
(iv) GKwU evK¨vs‡ki c–‡e© Gap _vK‡j †mLv‡b present participle/ past participle phrase em‡Z cv‡i|
Present Participle :
Seeing them, we became very excited. [CB '16]
Leaving the female uneducated, no nation can prosper.
Seeing the damage in his new car, Rana was shocked.
Closing the door, Bithi went to sleep.
Going to market, Hasan bought a shirt.
Hearing the news, Smriti began to weep.
Practice
3. Fill in the gaps with pre modifiers.
(a) Rahmat lives a — simple life. (b) Ripon — goes to bed at 9 pm. (c) —, Hasan went to sleep. (d) Our
headmaster is a — minded person. (e) The teachers of our school are — qualified. (f) —, we can keep fit. (g)
Dishonest people are — responsible for corruption. (h) Smoking is — detrimental to health. (i) All the districts
of Bangladesh are not — developed. (j) —, the man fell asleep.
Uses of Post Modifiers

(i) Noun Gi c‡i k–b¨¯’vb _vK‡j, †mLv‡b Present Participle phrase, Past Participle phrase, Infinitive Phrase, Adjective
Phrase, Appositive, Nominal clause ev Relative clause em‡Z cv‡i|
(a) Present Participle Phrase : GUv H Noun Gi Infinitive :
m¤•‡K© AviI Z_¨ hy³ K‡i| GKwU infinitive, verb ‡_‡K MwVZ nq wKš‘ Zv Sentence G verb wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i bv|
Infinitive ‘to + V1’ Gi mgš^‡q MwVZ nq hv ev‡K¨ Noun, Adjective ev Adverb
Besides, latrines standing on ponds and wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i| ‡hgb:
rivers cause water pollution. [DinajB '16] I love to sing. (Noun)
The students saw their teacher coming. She didn’t have permission to go. (Adjective)
My cousin reading at Jahangirnagar He plays cricket to become a cricketer. (Adverb)
University will join the party tonight. Infinitive/ Infinitive phrase hLb ev‡K¨ modifier wn‡m‡e e¨eüZ nq ZLb Zv †Kv‡bv
I found an old man standing at the door. noun Gi c‡i e‡m H noun †K eY©bv Kiv ev †Kv‡bv verb Gi c‡i e¨eüZ n‡q H verb
I used to watch the flower plant growing Gi D‡Ïk¨ ev KviY cÖKvk K‡i|
everyday. Infinitive Phrase :
Infinitive Phrase g–jZ to + v1 + other word (s) wb‡q MwVZ nq| Infinitive Gi
I saw my cousin playing in the field.
g‡Zv Infinitive Phrase-I ev‡K¨ Noun, Adjective ev Adverb wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i|
(b) Past Participle Phrase : †hgb:
A tiger killed by the hunter was left in the He helped to build the roof. (Noun)
jungle. I need a book to read on holiday. (Adjective)
I saw a man injured by an accident. I went to market to buy a mobile phone. (Adverb)
He has got the money sent by his father. Infinitive/Infinitive phrase hLb ev‡K¨ modifier wn‡m‡e e¨eüZ nq ZLb Zv †Kv‡bv
I have got the letter written by you. Noun Gi ci e‡m H Noun †K eY©bv K‡i ev †Kv‡bv Verb Gi ci e¨eüZ n‡q H Verb
The bridge destroyed by floods has been rebuilt. Gi D‡Ïk¨ ev KviY cÖKvk K‡i|
(c) Infinitive Phrase :
They left for towns to earn money. [RB '17] Appositive :
Appositive n‡”Q noun ev noun phrase ev noun clause hv Ab¨ GKwU
Rafiq was the last man to leave the campus too.
noun Gi c‡i e‡m H noun m¤c‡K© AwZwi³ Z_¨ †`q ev noun wU‡K eY©bv K‡i|
Fatima was surprised to hear the news.
She got a nice bat to play with. Appositive Gi ïiy Ges †k‡l Kgv (,) _v‡K| wb‡Pi D`vniYMy‡jv j¶ Ki : Mr.
Here is a chair to sit on. Jamal, the chairman of the company, was rewarded.
We, the people of Bangladesh, are peace loving.
(d) Preposition Phrase : Prepositional phrase :
A man with white beard came here yesterday. GKwU Preposition Ges GKwU Noun A_ev Pronoun wb‡q †h Phrase MwVZ nq Zv‡K
He is a man of great honour.
Prepositional phrase e‡j| D‡jÐL¨ Preposition Gi c‡ii Noun wU Noun, Noun
We saw a girl with a small dog.
Phrase A_ev Noun Clause n‡Z cv‡i| D`vniY:
We found the clues of the cruel murder.
He has come from Paris. (Preposition + Noun)
We saw a gentleman with sunglasses. The book is on the table. (Preposition + Noun Phrase)
(e) Appositive :
Shuchi Maam – Lecturer, English. Z. Rahman Premier Bank College. Cell: 01946716915
 Nazrul, the national poet, won the attention I have quoted here everything from what he said. (Preposition + Noun
of everyone in his early childhood. [SB '17] Clause)
We, the teachers and students, are proud of I am thinking of sleeping. (Preposition + Gerund)
him. g‡b ivL‡e, Prepositional phrase ev‡K¨ Adjective A_ev Adverb wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i|
Mr Kabir Hossain, our headmaster, presided Relative clause :
over the meeting. Relative clause †Kvb Noun ‡K Post modifiy Ki‡Z e¨envi Kiv nq| Relative
Rabindranath Tagore, a great poet, was born clause wU c–‡e© e¨eüZ Noun ‡K eY©bv K‡i ev Noun wU m¤c‡K© Z_¨ †`q| GKwU
in 1861. Relative clause memgq GKwU Relative Pronoun (who, which, that, whose)
We, the people of Bangladesh, are peace loving. w`‡q ïiy nq| D`vniY:
(f) Nominal clause : I bought a new car that is very fast. (Relative Clause wU ‘car’ noun ‡K
The report that he was murdered is true. eY©bv Ki‡Q| )
Our hope that he would come back home I got a mobile which was very expensive. (Relative Clause wU ‘mobile’
proved false. noun †K eY©bv Ki‡Q| )
The idea that she did it was wrong. Nominal clause :
The announcement that a new airport is to be built Nominal clause ev Noun clause ev‡K¨ memgq GKwU noun wn‡m‡e KvR K‡i|
nearby aroused immediate opposition. Noun clause My‡jv nq main clause Gi subject Avi bv nq object| g‡b ivL‡e GKwU
(g) Relative clause : noun clause me©`v GKwU c–Yv©½ evK¨ wb‡q nq| †hgb: Our expectation that Rumi
This is the pen which I lost yesterday. would get A+ proved false. GLv‡b †gvUv A¶‡i ‡jLv AskwU GKwU Noun clause|
I know the man who came here. GB AskwU main clause wUi object hv GKwU c–Yv©½ sentence|
The book which you gave me is very good.
He is the man whom we all respect.
The reason why I did it is obvious.

Practice
4. Fill in the gaps with post modifiers.
(a) The boy — in the field is my brother. (b) The girl — first in the examination is meritorious. (c) The bed is
soft —. (d) The old man — came to meet me yesterday. (e) Humayun Kabir, —, is an honest man. (f) The
statement — has proved false. (g) The book — has lost. (h) I saw the girl — a letter. (i) The boy — the first prize
is my brother. (j) We, — went to picnic last Firday.

(ii) Verb Gi c‡i k–b¨¯’vb _vK‡j, †mLv‡b Adverb/Infinitive Phrase/Preposition Phrase/Present Participle/ Past Participle em‡Z cv‡i|
(a) Adverb :
Deforestation means cutting down of trees indiscriminately. [DB '17]
The drug addiction has grasped the young generation seriously.
The train arrived late.
He does well in every examination as he does not waste time. [DinajB '17]
At first they used to send money to their parents time to time. [RB '17]
So, don't waste your time and try to learn English regularly from today. [JB '16]
The tortoise walks slowly.
(b) Infinitive phrase :
At the age of seventeen, he went to London to get admitted to a school there. [DB '16]
He wanted to know the matter.
Sumon went to market to buy a shirt.
Rana liked to play cricket in the afternoon.
They tried to win the match.
My parents encouraged me to study.
(c) Preposition Phrase :
Rana goes to school in the morning.
The crow is flying to and fro in search of water.
The car is running at a high speed.
The sun sets in the west.
Birds fly in the sky.
(d) Present/Past Participle :
He wrote letters to Kolkata praising English society. [DB '16]
The boys went out dancing and singing.

Shuchi Maam – Lecturer, English. Z. Rahman Premier Bank College. Cell: 01946716915