Noun Modifiers Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.6-7.1.E

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

A noun can be used to modify another noun without even thinking about it. A modifier of a noun attempts to make it more expressive. The goal is to help the reader to get much more information about the subject. There are many cases where you will find multiple modifiers in the same sentence. They can be placed before or after the word it is modifying within a sentence. The improper placement can result in several types of grammatical errors that plague most writers. If it is not placed properly it can result in a situation where it does not modify the word or ambiguously does so. These worksheets will help students learn how to use noun modifiers properly in sentences.

Noun Modifiers Worksheets To Print:

Mixed Skills - We will run through a great number skills using this concept.

Varying Adjectives - Replace the adjective in each sentence with a more specific and expressive modifier and rewrite the sentence.

Very, Pretty, Really - Put the words in the correct order to form a sentence.

Using Participles - Rewrite each pair of sentences as one sentence with a participle as a modifier.

Placement - Rewrite each sentence, adding the word in parentheses.

Prepositions - We work on our placement of prepositions within sentences.

Using Nouns as Adjectives - Choose the single word that would finish this off for you.

Participles and Prepositions - We will rewrite a series of sentences using what we have learned so far.

Recognizing Them - Underline the modifier in each of the sentences.

Relative Pronoun Clauses - We will work on the previous skill from a different angle.

Adding Them - Rewrite each sentence by adding what is indicated in parentheses.

Verbs Ending in -ed - You will write sentence using the verbs that are pointed out for you.

Application - You will write a series of sentences based on the criteria that is asked for.

Drop in Nouns - You will come up with your our nouns to complete each of these statements.

Noun Review - We ask you to put everything together for yourself.

What are Modifiers in Grammar?

This is a book.


If you look at the sentence above, you will find it bland. While it's grammatically correct, it lacks detail. Now, look at the sentence below.


This is a highly informative book.


Comparing both examples above, you will have a better understanding of how some words are used to add detail or turn a simple sentence into something more engaging. The words used to enhance the meaning of the sentences are called modifiers. Modifiers are essential grammatical tools, as they provide quality to the written content. It is not mandatory for a modifier to be single word; it could be a clause or a phrase as well.


There are two categories of modifiers: adjectives and adverbs.


Adjectives


Let's discuss adjectives in detail here. Adjectives are used to give information related to a noun or pronoun. They answer questions about a noun in infinite details. The example below will help you understand the role of adjectives more clearly.


This bag contains balls.


Now, questions arise like: What is the color of the bag? How many balls were in there? What kind of material was bag/balls made of? Etc. If you incorporate the answers to these questions into the sentence, it will become something like the sentence below, which seems more cohesive than before.


This white polyethene bag contains eight red plastic balls.


Adjectives are further divided into several categories: articles (a, an, the), possessive nouns, titles (Mr., Mrs., Sr., etc.), comparative nouns, numbers, indefinite and demonstrative pronouns, and nouns can modify other nouns.


Adverbs


Adverbs are like adjectives. However, they also modify verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. The questions which adverbs cater to are: where? how? when? etc. Usually, all the adverbs end at -ly. We can convert an adjective into an adverb by writing -ly at the end of the adjective.


She was slow.


The above sentence can be written as: She moved slowly. Here, slowly is an adverb.


Adverbs can be used to describe the following:


How: He speaks Spanish eloquently.


Where: The kids were playing outside.


When: She hadn't started yet.


To what extent: We almost lost the last bus to museum.


How many times: Allie is always spending money on her friends.


Using Modifiers, the Right Way - Rules to Remember


Beware of the placement of the modifiers. If placed in the wrong place in a sentence it can completely change the meaning, for example:


My brother walked in as I was cooking the dinner in his new shirt.


Here, in his new shirt is misplaced. It should be placed before "I was cooking the dinner".


Like this: My brother walked in, in his new shirt, as I was cooking dinner.


Both the sentences are correct however the message intended has changed due to misplaced modifier.


Similarly, sometimes people add adjectives or adverbs to the sentence but forget to write the word it is supposed to modify. So, the modifier remains dangling alone in the sentence, making no sense, for example:


Having finished the repairs, the dinner was served.


"Having finished the repairs" is not modifying the next phrase so in this case there is no subject for the modifier, this is known as dangling modifier.


So, instead of slap dashing, try to always write your sentences cautiously.