Modifiers Flashcards
‘Squinting’ modifiers are not preferred
A squinting modifier is a word when placed between two words or expressions, either of which it could modify, and the conveyed meaning is ambiguous.
Incorrect: People who train consistently achieve score increases.
Correct: People who consistently train achieve score increases.
Relative clauses
Clauses that relate to other parts of sentences and begin with relative pronouns [e.g. which, that, who, whose, whom]
Relative nouns ‘which’ and ‘that’
‘which’ and ‘that’ refers to nouns other than people. never refer to people
‘which’ and ‘that’ are not interchangeable.
‘which’ introduces nonrestrictive relative clauses. Nonrestrictive clauses add info to the sentence but are not vital to the sentence’s meaning. must always be preceded by a comma and end in a comma or period
‘that’ introduces restrictive relative clauses. information that a restrictive relative clause adds is essential to the meaning of the sentence
Verbs that indicate arrival and modifiers
Certain types of main verbs that indicate arrival, positioning, and coming into being can exist between a relative clause and the noun that it modifies in cases in which there is unlikely to be any confusion and the author would like to avoid putting the main verb after a long intervening relative clause.
Can ‘that’ be used to refer to people? Example: the man that plays the piano
NO. ‘That’ or ‘which’ should only refer to objects or ideas. ‘Who’ or ‘whom’ should refer to humans. Animals are not included in ‘who’ or ‘whom’.
The man who plays the piano.
whose
possesive and can be used for humans and things
Where do appositives appear
Almost always near what they modify [noun/subject]
What is an abstract appositive
An appositive that does not rename a noun or subject but an entire clause, usually consisting of an idea.
Example: Earth’s population of humans is expected to increase substantially over the coming decades, a development that could have significant negative effects on quality of life
abstract appositives may appear in sentence versions that are more effective than versions created via the use of other structures.
What is a participle
A verb form that works as a modifier.
jumping rabbit
ruined castle
A participle must always require a finite verb.
Incorrect: The man, swimming in a sea of uncertainty without any good options.
Correct: The man, swimming in a sea of uncertainty without any good options, cried.
Present participle phrases can be used in one of three ways
(1) Present participial phrases that are used to restrictively modify nouns.
(2) Present participial phrases that appear at the beginning or in the middle of clauses, are nonrestrictive, and can be treated as noun modifiers for the purpose of placement.
(3) Present participial phrases that appear at the end of clauses and usually, but not always, modify the preceding clauses.
What do participles at end of sentences usually appear as
Present participial phrases that modify entire clauses often describe the results of the actions mentioned in the preceding clauses, the causes of the events described in the preceding clauses, or events that were occurring while the events described in the preceding clause were occurring.
Preceded by a comma
Participle phrases must always describe events occurring at the same time
Incorrect: The lively raccoon washed the food, eating it quickly.
Correct: Having washed the food, the lively racoon ate it quickly.
