1、Chapter 6 ModifierModifierBe on the look-out for opening modifiers, which appear at the beginning of a sentence. Many modifying phrases in GMAT sentences are separated by commas from the noun being modified.Adjectives and AdverbsAdjectives and adverbs are one-word modifiers. An adjective modifies on
2、ly a noun or a pronoun, whereas an adverb modifies anything but a noun or pronoun. An adverb often modifies a verb, but it can also describe an adjective, another adverb, a preposition, a phrase, or even a whole clause.Often, the GMAT provides two grammatically correct phrasings. For instance, one p
3、hrasing might be Adjective+ Adjective+ Noun, in which the two adjectives both modify the noun. The other phrasing would be Adverb+ Adjective+ Noun, in which the adverb modifies the adjective, which in turn modifies the noun. These two phrasings do not mean the same thing. Pick up the phrasing that r
4、eflects the authors intent.Noun ModifierPhrases or clauses that modify nouns or pronouns are called Noun Modifier.Types of Noun Modifiers:AdjectivePrepositionPast ParticiplePresent Participle without commasRelative PronounAnother Noun (Appositive)All of these types can be used before or after a noun
5、 to modify that noun.Position of Noun ModifiersFollow the Touch Rule: A Noun and its Modifier should TOUCH each other.Note that adjectives, not adverbs, follow linking verbs such as “feel”. These adjectives do not modify the verb but rather identify a quality with the noun subject.E.g. Amy is feelin
6、g good/ well. (good/well is an adjective that modifies the noun Amy.)Wrong: James Joyce is Maxs supposedly Irish ancestor.Right: James Joyce is Maxs supposed Irish ancestor.(Because we already know that JJ is an Irish, here we need “supposed” to modify “ancestor”.)Wrong: Maxs grandmother is his supp
7、osed Irish ancestor.Right: Maxs grandmother is his supposedly Irish ancestor.(Of course, Maxs grandmother is his ancestor, but we wonder whether she is Irish.)If the modifier is next to a different noun, we have a Misplaced Modifier.E.g. Jim biked along an old dirt road to get to his house, which cu
8、t through the woods.(Here, which wrongly modifies house)If the noun we want to modify is not even in the sentence, we have a Dangling Modifier.E.g. There was no commotion in the office, resigned to the bad news.(Here, resigned should modify someone who can really be resigned to the bad news, not off
9、ice)In this case, we should insert a reasonable noun as the noun modified by the modifier.A present participle (-ing form) at the beginning of a sentence is often made to be dangling. Although these forms are technically Verb Modifiers, they still need a noun subject that makes sense.Wrong: Using th
10、e latest technology, the problem was identified.Wrong: The problem was identified, using the latest technology.Right: Using the latest technology, the engineer identified the problem.Right: The engineer identified the problem, using the latest technology.Unlike a noun modifier, a verb modifier does
11、not have to touch the subject. However, the subject must make sense with the verb modifier used in this way.Avoid long sequences of modifiers that modify the same noun. Putting two long modifiers in a row before or after a noun can lead to awkward or incorrect phrasing.Watch Out For PossessivesWrong
12、: Unskilled in complex math, Bills score on the exam was poor.Right: Unskilled in complex math, Bill did not score well on the exam.Here, the modifier “Unskilled in complex math” cannot reach inside the possessive form and modify “Bill”.Do not ignore the noun development or other abstract nouns. The
13、y follow the same rules as all other nouns: Modifiers that touch them should be intended to modify them.Wrong: Only in the past century has origamis development, a ceremonial activity invented millennia ago, into a true art form taken place.Right: Origami- a ceremony activity invented millennia ago-
14、 has developed into a true art form only in the past century.Noun Modifiers with Relative PronounsThe pronoun who and whom must modify people.On the other hand, the pronoun which must modify things.The pronoun that cannot modify people.The pronoun whose can either modify people or modify things.whic
15、h or whom sometimes follow prepositions.who is used as the subject of the verb in a relative clause, whereas whom is used as the object of the verb or of a preposition.that or whom can be dropped when the modified noun is the object of the modifying clause.The pronoun where can be used to modify a n
16、oun place, such as area, site, country, or Nevada. where cannot modify a “metaphorical” phrase, such as condition, situation, case, circumstance, or arrangement. In these cases, use in which rather than where.The pronoun when can be used to modify a noun event or time. In these circumstances, you ca
17、n also use in which instead of when.Essential Vs. Non-essential Noun ModifiersPut commas between Non-essential modifiers and their nouns; Put no comma between essential modifiers and their nouns.Use which (and commas), if the modifier is non-essential; Use that (and no commas), if the modifier is es
18、sential.In some circumstances, you do not have a simple choice between which and that. However, you should still obey the comma rule: Use commas with non-essential uses of which, but not with essential use of which.Non-essential: This mansion, for which I yearn, is owned by the Lees.Essential: The m
19、ansion for which I yearn is owned by the Lees.Verb ModifiersThese modifiers answer questions about the verb, such as “how”, “when”, “where”, “why”, etc.Types of Verb ModifiersAdverb Preposition SubordinatorThey all can be used either before the verb of after the verb.Some verb modifiers may apply to
20、 both the verb and the verbs subject. In these cases, you must make sure that the subject makes sense with the modifiers.Present Participle with commas Preposition+ Simple Gerund Infinitive of purposeLikewise, they all can be used either before the verb of after the verb.Verb modifiers can be placed
21、 more freely than noun modifiers. However, you should always place a verb modifier so that it modifies the right verb, without ambiguous.Wrong: The nameless symphony was at last performed, decades after it was composed, yesterday.Right: The nameless symphony was at last performed yesterday, decades
22、after it was composed.“yesterday” has been moved closer to the verb that ought to be modified.Which V.s the Present Participle IngUse which only to refer to the noun immediately preceding it- never to refer to an entire clause.Wrong: Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, which has led to
23、 a rise in property value.Right: The recent decrease in crime in our neighborhood has led to a rise in property value.Right: Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, leading to a rise in property value.-ing form can modify an entire clause, as long as the entire clause converted into a noun phrase could function as the subject of the verb that is now in ing form.This use of the ing form works best, when you want to express the result of the main clause.
