Questions tagged [modifiers]
A modifier is a word (generally an adjective, or a noun used as attribute) that changes the sense of the head noun.
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Are "very alone" and "very much alone" interchangeable?
Are "very alone" and "very much alone" used interchangeably?
If not, when to use one and when the other?
britannica.com:
(1) He felt very alone when he went away to school.
my ...
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What article (if any) to use with the word 'subculture'?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word 'subculture' is countable, which means it should be used with an article. However, I often see it used without any. For example:
Much of the available ...
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singular or plural form of noun modifier when noun is plural
Should I say, curriculum assignments are changing? Or should I say, the curricula assignments are changing?
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what does a prepositional phrase that follows a that clause modify?
Consider the following sentence:
As secretary, you are to set a meeting agenda that includes discussions in concert with the boss.
What word does the prepositional phrase "in concert with the ...
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How about 'participating something in '?
My student wrote down this answer in an exam.
Participating audience members in the music-making process can enhance the level of engagement and enjoyment for everyone involved.
The original ...
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a lot of books ('a lot of' books or a lot 'of books')
a lot of books
In short, 'a lot of'(premodifier) books or a lot 'of books'(postmodifier)?
If premodifier is correct, 'a lot of' is an adjectival phrase that modifies 'books'; if not, 'a lot' is a ...
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"It looked not (very) large." is correct with "very" but incorrect without, right?
The aim of this question is to understand the structure "not + modifier + adjective/adverb" better.
Does it always sound natural?
If not, then when can we use it and when not?
the textbook &...
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What does "with trolls" modify in "I have a special gift with trolls"?
"Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls, -- you must have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back there?"
From Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone
I really don'...
user183853
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"To take a walk to home"
"I took a walk to home".
I think "to home" modifies noun "walk", not verb "took". Is it right?
I think "took" itself isn't connected to direction, ...
user183211
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"I have a conversation about chemistry"
I had a conversation about chemistry.
It literally means I talked about chemistry with somebody.
Does it make the same sense if "about chemistry" modifies verb "had a converstion",...
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Can "once" modify the conjunctional clause?
Once when I was six I saw a magnificent picture in a book about the
jungle, called True Stories.
It's from "the Little Prince".
If "once" and "when I was six" are ...
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Adverb "honestly" —At the beginning & At the mid position
I can't honestly say what time I'll be home.
Vs
Honestly, I can't say what time I'll be home.
I think there is subtle difference in meaning, but I am not sure, Explain me the usage of the ...
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In this context "Possibly" is modifying what?
It's a possibly dangerous situation.
I think "possibly" modifies the adjective "dangerous" or "dangerous situation",
doesit(possibly)indicate manner?
I found a definition ...
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What's the difference between "might..." and "might potentially... "?
newly available oil might potentially create a drop in prices.
VS
newly available oil might create a drop in prices.
With me, I think both implying almost same meaning. What is the word "...
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What's the meaning of "community involvement"?
She saw community involvement as crucial.
How the word "community" is modifying the word"involvement"?how the meaning is changing after adding the word "community" to the ...
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Is there an implicit "the" in this sentence?
I'm looking at the sentence "The Big E and the Topsfield Fair are coming."
These are both names of festivals. The full name of the first is "The Big E," while the latter is ...
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We can't remove article from a singular countable noun. So is that a noun modifier or complement?
We can't remove article from a singular countable noun. So is that a noun modifier or complement?
We generally call it a modifier though it's mandatory...But why?🤔
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Question about adverbs and what they modify
Consider the following sentences
I am definitely very hungry
I am definitely a hungry person
I am definitely hungry
I am always hungry
I’m unsure of how to tell what these adverbs modify. Do ...
Charles
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What does 'ever' modify?
It was my first game ever.
Does ever modify was or first?
This is my first time ever playing basketball.
Does ever modify is or first?
Rick
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How do I say that something is partly new in the form of a premodifier?
If I want to premodify a noun by saying that it is partly new, how do I do this? Neither of the following gets more than one or two hits on Google, and no hits at all on Ngrams, so I suspect they aren'...
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Is the phrase 'the delusive nature of' related to next phrases?
In this following context, is the phrase 'the delusive nature of' related to the next bold and italic phrases as:
'the delusive nature of ego-entity,
the delusive nature of the mere relative value of ...
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What does this "as-clause" modify?
He then describes the situation as he sees it in the public schools of the United states. (Source: COCA)
I want to know whether the as-clause "as he sees it in the public schools of the United ...
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Can I put "as evidenced by" as a non-essential clause here?
Overall, as corruption is widespread, as evidenced by corruption at
both the elite and grassroots levels, socialism does not work.
Is the above sentence correct? I tried to modify "widespread&...
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Does my usage of "thereby" have the intended meaning here?
Moreover, the socialist states are less prosperous because the means of production are nationalized instead of being under private control, thereby reducing incentives for economic progress.
I'm ...
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adverbs modifying causative "have"
The verb "tell" can take a modifying adverb as follows:
John told Bill emphatically to stay away from Sarah. (The adverb modifies "tell.")
I'm wondering if the causative verb &...
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**At noon**—what it is modifying the verb "is" or the noun"Film"?
There is a film at noon we could see.
How to know what at noon modifies in this sentence?
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Why is there no article in this sentence?
Here's the sentence:
Enter University of Cambridge zoologist Ricardo Rocha.
It is a complete sentence from an IELTS text. My question is: why is there no article before 'university,' as 'University ...
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They found the stone-tipped spears created larger 'wounds' than the wooden (ones)
In this article in the Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2735926/Stone-Age-spears-lethal-BULLETS.html is the sentence:
They found the stone-tipped spears created larger '...
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In this sentence, what does "being seen as somehow sinful" modify?
I was reading a PDF on Linguahouse about Netflix when I came across this part:
Many point to how television used to be a shared experience: a topic of discussion at work, a meeting of everyone in the ...
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Is an article determained by the possessive 's?
Today I came across the following sentence:
AI's decision-making process is usually too difficult for most people to comprehend.
It seemed weird to me because I thought that the word process ...
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Use of articles when a noun serves as a modifier
I've just came across the following sentence in an IELTS test book:
They found items such as ancient arrows and skis from Viking Age
traders.
I was surprised that there was no 'the' before 'Viking ...
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I don't know what follows what in this sentence
Officials familiar with the calls say the efforts have not been a departure from the administration’s efforts over the past year to push oil producers to keep production levels high after Russia’s ...
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A fundamental doubt I'd like to clear today
I've asked many people how to know whether an adjective is modifying it or making it specific when the adjective is placed before a noun.
Most have told it depends on the context. But one person said ...
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a question about plain language and unnecessary modifiers (not a homework question)
The question below (see the picture) is from Writing in Plain Language course on Linkedin Learning. It's the second last question on the curriculum though. Well, the answer is B (the one in the middle)...
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Hanging on vs To hang on
[Error Correction ]
The right wall of my bedroom had nothing ( hanging on，except a clock) .
A. except a clock hanging
B. to be hanging on，except acloc k
C. to hang on，except a clock
D. except a ...
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Title case: Which is better ? pre or post-modifier in this case?
Followings are titles for a thesis on Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Allegory of the Good Government.
Ambrogio Lorenzetti depicted two Justices in his picture.
Among the four, which one is grammatically best ? ...
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Participle phrase as adjunct or modifier
Consider the below sentence:
Revolution broke out in France in 1789, most cogently symbolised then as now by the storming of the Bastille on 14 July.
The participle phrase most cogently symbolised ...
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a lot of money (what is a modifier?)
a lot of money
'of money' modifies 'a lot'? or 'a lot of' modifies 'money'?
a: an indefinite article which modifies a 'noun'
lot: many definitions; one of them: a considerable quantity or extent(a ...
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Attributive nouns: 'trade' and 'trading' with a noun
I am a bit confused when it comes to attributive nouns, i.e. when nouns serve as adjectives. The greatest problem for me is whether I need to use attributive nouns as they are or in their -ing form. ...
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Is "connecting" used correctly in the sentence below?
The ed-modifier and ing-modifier have been very difficult topics of English. Can I use both of them in the following sentence :
There have been 2 bridges erected, connecting the lake’s shores.
I ...
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V-ing as noun modifier
Just about anyone living in the area at that time is at risk. （From CGEL, 2002, p. 162）
I understand it's equivalent to
Just about anyone who lived in the area at that time is at risk.
I wrote a ...
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as it invests heavily in augmented and virtual reality
What does the boldfaced phrase modify?
Meta Platforms, the company formerly known as Facebook, had its worst day ever on the stock market Thursday, after reporting a rare profit decline and stagnant ...
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Does "which" refer to the Chinese buzzwords or the social changes and cultures?
The Chinese buzzwords usually reflect the social changes and cultures, some of which are increasingly popular with the foreign media.
I saw this sentence in an exam. What is the antecedent of " ...
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Much vs Many with rank
When We ask someone about their rank, what do we ask them?
How many rank did you get in your exam?
or
How much rank did you get in your exam?
I know the above question can also be asked as "...
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Singluar or plural word with two modifiers
I have an effect that is made up of two parts and I have written the following sentence to describe them:
We test the importance of the status-enhancing and the status-suppressing components of the ...
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"the biggest liar of all people I have ever known" / "the biggest liar of all the others I have ever known" / "the biggest liar I have ever known"
You are the biggest liar of all people I have ever known.
You are the biggest liar of all the others I have ever known.
You are the biggest liar I have ever known.
Are all of the sentences natural, ...
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An interesting teacher VS an interested student [duplicate]
We know an adjective ending in either -ing or -ed can modify a noun. What is the difference between these two pairs?
An interesting teacher
An interested student
A heartbroken mother ( A ...
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a good night's sleep (which one is modified by "good"?)
a good night's sleep
Does good modify night or sleep?
The phrase means 'a sound sleep' and wonder which thing is modified by 'good'.
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‘There is a double yolk in the egg.’
‘There is a double yolk in the egg.’
If one of two yolks is red, should I say ‘part of a double yolk’ is red or ‘one of a double yolk’ is red? (Part of a double helix is damaged, etc.)
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When a noun modifies a noun, which word (or words) is a target for an article?
"I work in an office building."
Do we determine the article in these cases by looking at the main noun "building" -> "a building"?
Or do we determine the article by ...
