Modifiers

Question 1

Prepositional Phrases

Answer 1

modifying phrases that start with a preposition and contain an object. These can modify both nouns (adjectival) and actions (adverbial). In general, prepositional phrases should be as close as possible to the nouns/verbs they seek to modify.

Question 2

Participial Phrases

Answer 2

modifying phrases that start with a participle (-ing or –ed verb form). These must modify nouns (adjectival). When used in the beginning of a sentence, participial phrases should be placed as close as possible to the noun they seek to modify.

When attached at the end of a sentence (or clause) with a comma, participial modifiers can modify the subject of that sentence/clause.

Question 3

Appositive Phrases

Answer 3

noun phrases that serve the role of modifier. These must modify nouns (adjectival).

When used in the beginning or middle of a sentence, appositive phrases should be placed as close as possible to the noun they seek to modify.

When attached to the end of a sentence (or clause) and separated by a comma, appositive phrases can modify that sentence or clause.

Question 4

Relative Clauses

Answer 4

subordinate clauses starting with relative pronouns such as which, who, whose, where, that, etc. These must modify nouns (adjectival).

Relative clauses must modify the noun (or noun phrase) that comes directly adjacent to them.

Question 5

Key Concept 1

Answer 5

When a sentence begins with a description and a comma, you are likely dealing with a modifier decision. Beginning-of-sentence modifier rules are clear, so make these a core competency.

Question 6

Key Concept 2

Answer 6

When you are dealing with a modifier at the end of a sentence, be careful: appositives and participial phrases get more leeway when attached to the end of a sentence, so these generally do not make good primary decision points.

Question 7

Key Concept 3

Answer 7

Relative modifiers (which, where, when, who) are frequently tested and have straightforward rules, so you should prioritize these decisions.

Question 8

Trick 1

Answer 8

When separated by commas, modifiers convey nonessential information. If a modifier is not your reason for eliminating an answer choice, you can ignore it when reading the rest of the sentence and therefore work with fewer words.

Question 9

Trick 2

Answer 9

When answer choices begin with different nouns (e.g. “the homogeneity of the cheetah species,” “the cheetah species,” and “members of the cheetah species”) there is a high likelihood that the sentence includes a fixed (non-underlined) modifier and your job is to match a logical noun to that modifier.