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Using Modifiers Correctly What Is a Modifier? • Modifier – makes the meaning of a word or word group more specific. – Adjective modifies nouns and pronouns – Adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs Adjective: My, that was a quick flight. Adverb: The flight arrived quickly. – TIP: If it’s a PA, use the adjective form. If it modifies the verb, use the adverb form. Trivia Question! Did you do good on your exam? Did you do well on your exam? GOOD WELL Good & Well • “Good” is an adjective. • Use “well” to modify a verb. TIP: “Well” can mean “in good health” or “satisfactory” TIP: Use “good” to mean “happy” Examples Alicia Keys plays the piano very (good, well). Her SAT results were (good, well). Raeshaun ate too much and isn’t feeling (good, well) today. I felt (good, well) when I won the trophy. Comparison of Modifiers • When comparing things, adjectives and adverbs take different forms. • The type of form used depends on: A) How many syllables the modifier has B) How many things are being compared. Examples That garden is That garden is That is the . than hers. garden on the block. Three Types of Modifiers Positive Comparative Superlative Old Older Oldest Hot Hotter Hottest Quick Quicker Quickest Most one-syllable modifiers use “-er” and “-est” to make comparative and superlative forms. Three Types of Modifiers Positive Comparative Superlative happy happier happiest thankful more thankful most thankful cheerful more cheerful most cheerful Two-syllable modifiers use “-er” or “more” to make the comparative form and “-est” or “most” to make the superlative form. Three Types of Modifiers Positive Comparative Superlative beautiful more beautiful most beautiful eagerly more eagerly most eagerly skillfully more skillfully most skillfully Three-syllable modifiers use “more” to make the comparative form and “most” to make the superlative form. Three Types of Modifiers Positive Comparative Superlative colorful less colorful least colorful proud less proud least proud smoothly less smoothly least smoothly To show decreasing comparisons, all modifiers form their comparative and superlative degrees with “less” and “least.” Irregular Comparison Positive Comparative Superlative bad worse worst well/good better best many/much more most Some modifiers do not form their comparative and superlative degrees using the usual methods. Comparative & Superlative • Use comparative when comparing two things • Use superlative when comparing more than two. Examples • This piece of wood is (lighter, lightest) than that one. • Of the three contestants, which one sings (better, best)? • The North Star is the (brighter, brightest) star in the sky. • Of the canary or the parakeet, which bird sings (more sweetly, most sweetly)? Some More Tips • Use “other” and “else” when comparing a member of the group with the rest of the group – WRONG: Chang can run faster than anyone on the team. – RIGHT: Chang can faster than anyone else on the team. • Avoid double comparisons – WRONG: Houston, Texas, is more larger than Dallas. – RIGHT: Houston, Texas, is larger than Dallas. The Double Negative • The use of TWO negative words to express ONE negative idea – WRONG: We don’t have no chores left to do. – RIGHT: We don’t have any chores left to do. – RIGHT: We have no chores left to do. – WRONG: He couldn’t scarcely believe it. – RIGHT: He could scarcely believe it. – RIGHT: He couldn’t believe it. DON’T USE DOUBLE NEGATIVES! Placement of Modifiers • Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as near as possible to the words they modify. – The astronaut showed pictures of his last flight in outer space. – The astronaut in outer space showed pictures of his last flight. – The astronaut showed pictures in outer space of his last flight. NOTE: Problems usually occur with prepositional phrases , participal phrases, and clauses. Placement of Modifiers – seems to modify the wrong word. – MISPLACED: Dad filmed the baby taking his first steps with his video camera. – CLEAR: With his video camera, Dad filmed the baby taking his first steps. – does not clearly modify another word or word group in a sentence – DANGLING: Dancing all night at the party, my feet were sore. – CLEAR: Dancing all night at the party, I got sore feet. Placement of Modifiers Ding Ding Ding! You are the winner! "Well" Is Correct! Oooh…better luck next time “Good” is incorrect.