Modifiers Flashcards
An essential modifier is grammatically correct…
WithOUT commas (,) Note: use "that"
Non-essential modifiers are written with…
Commas
NOTE: use “which”
When expressing the result of the main clause, use…
“ing”
Ex. Crime has decreased in my neighborhood, LEADING to a rise in home value.
GMAT will often use “which”, as a trick.
WHICHEVER has lead to a rise…
When to drop “that” and “whom”
If the nouns is the object of the modifying clause.
EX. (Wrong) The movie that we watched was scary.
EX. (Right) The movie we watched…
Type of modifier that must touch the intended noun
Noun Modifier
Who modifies
people
which modifies
things
whose modifies
people/things
where modifies
area, site, country
when and which modify
events, time, age
GMAT TRICK: Possessives
EX. “John’s book” when the modifier should modify “John”
GMAT TRICK: “Which” CANNOT modify…
the action of the preceding clause. The answer should be the verb ending with “ing”.
“Who” is used when referring to the…
subject
“Whom” is used when referring to the…
object
Type of modifier that doesn’t have to touch the intended noun, but must modify the correct noun
verb modifier
MODIFIER STRATEGY
When you spot a sentence with a modifier…
- Is it a noun modifier(must touch noun) or verb modifier (must modify correct noun).
- Is it an essential modifier (no commas and use that) or non-essential (commas and use which)
“Based on” is usually corrected with _______?
“Because of”
Dangling modifiers - what is it and how is it corrected?
many times, these sounds ok to the ear, watch out
modifier that doesn’t modify anything :)
Its corrected by turning that modifier into a prepositional phrase or adding a noun to be modified.
EX. pg 99 (sentence correction SG - #15)
Why are opening modifiers used frequently?
to trick the reader. We don’t speak in this manner, but it is grammatically correct.
Which CANNOT modify a noun? “ing” OR “, ing”
”, ing” can not modify the preceding noun.
EX. A killler whale, growing up to 30 feet in length…
This is incorrect.
If you have multiple modifiers, they should _________ the noun they modify.
Hug.
AKA if there are 3 modifiers, all 3 will not appear before or after. It will hug, 2 before and 1 after. They are like stalkers. As close as possible.
