Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Modifiers to Nouns
Modifiers to Nouns
Recognize function and form
A modifier to a noun:
- expresses a dictionary meaning, a particular meaning about — size, shape, color, worth, age, origin, time, source or other identifying (limiting) information.
- functions as a word or phrase that adds information about a noun, and is included with the noun in the noun phrase.
- takes form as (1) a word placed before the noun such as a determiner (Det), an adjective (Adj), a participle, a noun (N) ; or (2) as a structure placed after the noun such as a prepositional phrase (PP) or a relative clause (Cls). The noun and its modifiers together form a noun phrase (NP).
Other words that modify are related to the predicate: (1) "situational adverbs" that add detail information about the action—manner, frequency, degree and so on; and (2) "stance adverbs" that add opinion or information about the circumstances under which something is being said.
Adjectives ›
An Adjective (uses)
Positioned After Noun
Modifiers to Nouns
Summary of Practices
Modifiers—Diagnostic Quiz
Adj / Modifier Diagnostic: identify specific English grammar points that need review:
This is a grammar diagnostic page with study links.
Quiz 1: beginning–intermediate
Quiz 2: intermediate–advanced
Adjective Summary ›
Use the above link to advance to a list of pages.
Modifiers to Adj (Adjective Phrases)
Adverbs for Degree (modifier to adjectives)
Red leaves are falling. (attributive Adj)
We saw something red. (post-position!)
The show was awesome / awful. (suffixes)
The sky is /seems /appears blue.
We were happy about the leaf fall. (Adj +P)
The wind pushed the door open.
It was extremely windy.
Noun Modifiers: modify a noun with a noun
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
Its a chair for an office.
It's an office chair. (singular)
It is a sports car. (a rare plural modifier)
Number Modifiers: combine a numbers and nouns as a modifier
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
The ladder had five steps.
It was a five-step ladder.
There are a million uses for WD-40. (spelled out)
Participle Summary ›
Use the above link to advance to a list of pages.
The entertaining act was free.
The entertained audience clapped enthusiastically.
We heard the sound of breaking dishes.
The broken dishes lay on the ground.
The clown entertaining us was hilarious.
The audience silenced by the announcer watched intently.
Modifiers to Adj: indicate how much or what degree of modification
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
Number-Noun & Adverb Modifiers
Practice 1 – multiple choice
Practice 2 – multiple choice
Practice 3 – multiple choice
Related pages: Adverbs of Manner, Adverbs of Degree
The basketball player is nine feet tall. (plural)
He can place a ball in a basket ball hoop ten feet high.
He sleeps in a bed that is nine and a half feet long.
He is extremely tall.
How / What: emphasize opinion with an exclamation (!)
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
What–exclamation vs. questions
Grammar Notes (show-hide arrow)
Practice 1 – multiple choice
Practice 2 – edit
Related pages: So that/Such that
How beautiful!
How beautiful a creature!
How beautiful it is!
How gracefully it swims!
What a creature! remarkably beautiful or ugly
What a beautiful creature!
*What an awful creature stung me!
*not used
Noun + Prep Phrase: add modifying information before or after a noun
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
The house next door belongs to my cousin.
Our next-door neighbor is on vacation.
The man on the street was shouting
The on the street man was shouting.
Misrelated Clause: improve the positioning of modifying clauses
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
*Being a guy, it is hard for him to understand her point of view.
Being a guy, he has a hard time understanding her point of view.