Modifiers

Front 1

True of false modifiers can be a single word or phrase?

Back 1

True.

Front 2

True of false on the GMAT modifiers are often a single word or phrase?

Back 2

False.

On the GMAT modifiers are often complex phrases.

Front 3

What is the best way to identify modifiers in a sentence?

Back 3

Modifiers are often seperated by commas.

Front 4

What a good rule of thumb when reading a SC question associated with modifiers?

Back 4

Modifiers often occur at the beginning of a sentence.

Front 5

What is an adverb?

Back 5

An adverb can be used to modify verbs or another adverb.

Front 6

How are adverbs often form?

Back 6

By adding -ly to the end of a sentence.

Front 7

True or false adjective can only modify nouns and pronouns.

Back 7

True

Front 8

What are the 3 rules for modifying phrases?

Back 8

1. After identifying the modifying phrase find the noun it modifies.
2. Be on the look out for dangling modifiers.
3. A modifying phrase should be adjacent to the noun it modifies.

Example:

Dangling Modifiers.

Using the latest technology, the mechanical problem was identified quickly. (Incorrect)

Using the latest technology, the engineer identifier the problem quickly. (Correct)

Modifying phrase should be adjacent to the noun it modifies.

• In some cases the modified noun will be in the sentence but it will not be adjacent to the modifying phrase, this is incorrect.
• Upon leaving the register, the cashier handed the customer a receipt. (Incorrect)
• Upon leaving the register, the customer received a receipt from the cashier. (Correct)

Front 9

What is possessive poison?

Back 9

Modifiers phrases must modify noun or pronoun and cannot modify their possessive.

Example.

• Unskilled in complex math, Bill’s score on the entrance exam was poor. (Incorrect)
• Unskilled in complex math, Bill did not score well on the entrance exam. (Correct)

Here, the modifier unskilled in complex math should describe Bill. However, Bill never appears in the sentence; only Bill’s score appears. Clearly, Bill’s score is not unskilled in complex math. To correct the sentence, we replace the possessive Bill’s score with Bill.

Front 10

True or false adverbial modifier phrase do not need to be adjacent to the word that its modifying.

Back 10

True.

• A modifier and its modifier noun should always touch. However, when the word being modified is not a noun, the modifying phrase is called an adverbial phrase and does not need to touch the word being modified.

Example:

• The running back ran towards the end zone, faster and harder than he had ever run before.

The phrase faster and harder than he had ever run before describes how the running back ran. Thus, the phrase is not modifying the running back; instead it is modifying ran.

Front 11

What question should you ask about adverbial modifiers and the verb?

Back 11

If the modifier answers the question how? About a verb, it is an adverbial modifier.

Front 12

Modifiers are often introduce by which relative pronouns?

Back 12

1. Which
2. That
3. Where
4. Who
5. Whose
6. Whom

Front 13

The pronoun who introduces a modifying [blank]?

Back 13

Person or group of people.

Front 14

The pronoun which introduces a modifying [blank]?

Back 14

Things

Front 15

The pronoun that introduces a modifying [blank]?

Back 15

People or things.

Front 16

True or false which is used to introduce essential modifiers?

Back 16

False.

• Which is used to introduce non-essential modifiers, these are clauses that provide information about a noun that is not necessary for identifying that noun.

• To find my house, walk down the left side of the street until you reach the third house, which is red. (Non-essential)

• In the non-essential modifier which can be removed from the sentence without the sentence losing any essential meaning.

Front 17

True or false that is used to introduce essential modifiers?

Back 17

True.

• That is used to introduce essential modifiers. These are clauses that provide information about a noun that is necessary for identifying that noun.

• To find my house, walk down the left side of the street until you reach the third house that is red. (Essential)

A modifier introduce by the word that is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Front 18

True or false when which is used as a relative pronoun it refer to the noun immediate preceding it not the entire preceding clause.

Back 18

True.

when which is used as a relative pronoun, it refers to the noun immediately preceding it – not to the action of the entire preceding clause.

Example:

• The police found the murder weapon, which made the prosecutor’s job much easier. (Incorrect)

• The police found the murder weapon, making the prosecutors’ job much easier. (Correct)