Modifier

Definition: Words that provide additional information about another word are called
modifiers.
Alternatively, words, phrases, or clauses that are used to provide additional information
about another word, phrase, or clause are called modifiers.
Example:
Rahim is a good student. He goes to school ______ (Post-modify the verb with an adverb).
In the sentence above, you are asked to provide additional information about the verb (to
modify it). We know that an adverb can provide additional information about a verb.
Therefore, if we place an adverb as a modifier, the sentence will be correct.
Modifiers can be divided into two categories based on their position.
1. Pre Modifier
2. Post Modifier
Pre Modifier
Modifiers that come before the word they modify are called pre-modifiers.
Example:
Q. Bangladesh is a _____ country (Pre-modify the noun with an adjective.)
A. Bangladesh is a beautiful country.
Post Modifier
Modifiers that come after the word they modify are called post-modifiers.
Example:
Q. I went to his house _____ (Post-modify the verb with an adverb of time)
A. I went to his house last night.
In the question, there are certain specific terms used for modifiers. They are:
1. Possessive Adjectives
2. Determiner
3. Appositive
4. Modify the Noun
5. Modify the Verb
6. Modify the Adjective
7. Quantifiers
8. Noun Adjective
9. Demonstratives
10. Intensifier
11. Infinitive
12. Infinitive Phrase
13. Relative Pronoun
14. Relative Clause
15. Present Participle
16. Participle Phrase
17. Article
18. Adverbial

Special Notes on English. Edited by Raisul Islam, Senior Lecturer & Head, Department of English,
Halishahar Cantonment Public School and College. 01672015087. 1
1. Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are words that show ownership or possession. These include: My, Our, Your, His, Her,
Their, Its.
Example in Sentence:
Question: He has lost ____ book. (Use possessive to pre-modify the noun)
Answer: He has lost his book.
Note: Subject-wise Possessive Adjectives:
Subjective Form Possessive Form
I My
We Our
You Your
He His
She Her
They Their
It Its
2. Determiner
A determiner is a word used before a noun to provide more information about it.
Examples of determiners include: Many, Much, Few, Little, Some, Any, No, A, An,
Other, etc.
1. Example in Sentence:
Question: She is a renowned singer in the locality. She has ____ books on singing.
(Use determiner)
Answer: She is a renowned singer in the locality. She has many books on singing.
2. Note: Difference between Many & Much, Few & Little.
Word Meaning Difference/Reason
Many A lot of Used with countable nouns
Much A lot of Used with uncountable nouns
Few A small number of Used with countable nouns
Little A small amount of Used with uncountable nouns

3. Appositive
An appositive is a word or phrase that provides additional information about the
subject. It generally comes after the subject and is separated by a comma.
Example in Sentence
Question: Bangladesh, ____, is situated in South-East Asia. (Use appositive)
Answer: Bangladesh, a beautiful country, is situated in South-East Asia.
Note: The appositive usually sits behind the subject and is separated from the subject
and verb by using a comma.

4. Modify the Noun

In this type of modification, we modify the noun in the question with an appropriate
adjective.
Example in Sentence
Question: Kamal says his prayers regularly. He must be a ___ boy. (Modify the noun)
Answer: Kamal says his prayers regularly. He must be a good boy.
Special Notes on English. Edited by Raisul Islam, Senior Lecturer & Head, Department of English,
Halishahar Cantonment Public School and College. 01672015087. 2
 Note: Be absolutely sure of the context when modifying a noun. Please read carefully
for better understanding.

5. Modify the Verb

In this case, we modify the verb with an adverb or adjective.
Note: Action verbs are modified by adverbs, and non-action verbs are modified by
adjectives.
Example in Sentence
Question: Mr. Ahmed is an old man. He walks ___. (Modify the verb)
Answer: Mr. Ahmed is an old man. He walks slowly.
Question 2: Mr. Ahmed is an old man. He is ___. (Modify the verb)
Answer 2: Mr. Ahmed is an old man. He is slow.

6. Modify the Adjective

In this case, we modify the adjective with an adverb.
Example in Sentence
Question: Mr. Rahman’s son is sick. He is ___ sad. (Modify the adjective)
Answer: Mr. Rahman’s son is sick. He is very sad.

7. Quantifiers
In this case, we use quantifiers, which are a type of determiner.
Example in Sentence
Question: ____ day I came to know a strange person. (Use quantifier)
Answer: One day I came to know a strange person.
Determiner
Determiners are used with adjectives to describe nouns. Examples include: Many, Much,
Few, Little, Some, Any, No, A, An, Other, etc.
Example in Sentence
Question: She is a renowned singer in the locality. She has ____ books on singing. (Use
determiner)
Answer: She is a renowned singer in the locality. She has many books on singing.
Note: Difference between Many & Much, Few & Little:
• Many: A lot of (Used with countable nouns)
• Much: A lot of (Used with uncountable nouns)
• Few: A small number of (Used with countable nouns)
• Little: A small amount of (Used with uncountable nouns)
8. Demonstrative
In this case, we use demonstrative words such as this, that, these, those.
Example in Sentence
Question: Some boys are playing in the field. ____ boy is playing particularly well.
(Use demonstrative)
Answer: Some boys are playing in the field. That boy is playing particularly well.
(Use demonstrative)
9. Noun Adjective
In this case, we use a noun adjective to modify the noun.
Example in Sentence
Special Notes on English. Edited by Raisul Islam, Senior Lecturer & Head, Department of English,
Halishahar Cantonment Public School and College. 01672015087. 3
 Question: I am a pen lover. I have a ____ pen. (Use noun adjective)
Answer: I am a pen lover. I have a blue pen.
[Link]
An infinitive consists of "to + verb base form." It is used to show purpose in a
sentence.
Example in Sentence
Question: We work hard ____ in life. (Use infinitive)
Answer: We work hard to shine in life.
Note: Infinitive phrases can also be used, where "to + verb base form + other words"
form the phrase.
[Link] Pronoun
Relative pronouns are used to refer to previously mentioned nouns (people, places,
things, etc.) and join two clauses or sentences.
Example in Sentence
Question: I know the person ___ met an accident last night. (Use relative pronoun)
Answer: I know the person who met an accident last night.
[Link]
There are three types of participles: Present, Past, and Perfect.
Note 1: In HSC E2 modifiers, most of the cases we have to use Present Participle.
Formation of Present Participle: Verb base form + ing
Example in Sentence
Question: ___ dinner, I went to bed. (Use participle)
Answer: Finishing dinner, I went to bed.
Note 2: We can also be asked to provide Present Participle Phrase. Formation of Present Participle
Phrase: (V1 + ing + other words)
Example in Sentence
Question: ___, I went to bed. (Use participle phrase)
Answer: Finishing dinner, I went to bed.

Special Notes on English. Edited by Raisul Islam, Senior Lecturer & Head, Department of English,
Halishahar Cantonment Public School and College. 01672015087. 4