Structures of Modification
A structure of modification
is comprised of HEAD and
MODIFIER. It may enlarge,
choose, change, or even
describe the head. Both the
head and modifier are not
always single words. They
may be structures with
complexities.
Structures of Modification
Single
Word Modifying Modifying
Modifiers Phrases Clauses
✓ adjectives, adverbs ✓ adverbial phrases, ✓ adverbial clauses
prepositional
phrases, absolute
phrases
Structures of Modification
NOUN AS VERB AS ADJECTIVE AS ADVERB AS QUALIFIER AS PREPOSITION
HEAD HEAD HEAD HEAD HEAD AS HEAD
o Adjective as o Adverb as Verb o Qualifier as o Qualifier as Adverb
Noun Modifier Modifier Adjective Modifier Modifier
o Noun as Noun o Noun as Verb o Adverb as o Adverb as Adverb
Modifier Modifier Adjective Modifier Modifier
o Verb as Noun o Adjective as o Noun as Adjective o Noun as Adverb
Modifier Verb Modifier Modifier Modifier
o Adverb as o Verb as Verb o Verb as Adjective o Prepositional
Noun Modifier Modifier Modifier Phrase as Adverb
o Prepositional o Prepositional o Adjective as Modifier
Phrase as Noun Phrase as Verb Adjective Modifier
Modifier Modifier o Prepositional
Phrase as
Adjective Modifier
NOUN AS HEAD
Adjective as a Noun Modifier
Adjective precedes the noun (head) constantly except if the adjective
is not a single word but structure.
MODIFIER HEAD
palpable danger
HEAD MODIFIER
A figure vague and shadowy
A house bigger than I thought
Noun as a Noun Modifier
This modifier also precedes the head (noun) constantly. It
can be a possessive form or basic form (noun adjunct).
POSSESSIVE NOUN
A week’s holiday
The woman’s friend
NOUN-ADJUNCT NOUN
Bus station
Book shop
Noun adjunct is noun that has a function like an adjective
(to modify noun). It is always in a singular form, not plural
form.
Verb as a Noun Modifier
It can be from present participle (V-Ing), past participle (V-
ed/d/irregular form), or to-infinitive. These verb positions may
precede or follow the head if they are parts of larger structures,
but to-infinitives always follow the noun-head.
VERB NOUN NOUN VERB
running water water running in the river
shattered faith dreams realized slowly
money to spend
clothes to wear
Adverb as a Noun Modifier
Adverb is rarely a noun modifier. The position is always directly
after noun (head).
HEAD MODIFIER
The temperature inside
Heavens above
The conversations afterwards
The questions below
Prepositional Phrase (Functional Words) as a Noun Modifier
Prepositional phrases used as noun modifiers follow the head.
HEAD MODIFIER
man in the mirror
life without challenges
VERB AS HEAD
Adverb as a Verb Modifier
All adverb kinds can modify the verb. The position may be after
or before verb; or between the verb auxiliaries.
After verb Before the verb
He works successfully. He successfully tried.
He drives rapidly. He slowly drove.
He is moving ahead.
He was looking sidewise. Between Auxiliary-Verb
He can swim backward. He has sometimes seen.
He has looked everywhere. He has seldom been heard.
Noun as a Verb Modifier
Several nouns can be verb modifier. The position is after verb and
this noun has a noun determiner because noun after verb also can
be an object of verb.
Structure of Modification Structure of Complementation
(Noun as Verb Modifier) (Noun as The Object)
He walked this way. He likes his own way.
I left that time. People despise changes.
The vehicle travels a mile. He measured a mile.
Adjective as a Verb Modifier
There are some kinds of adjective that have purpose to modify a
verb and give a special expression.
The machine ran true.
What went wrong?
The show fell flat.
Verb as a Verb Modifier
Some structure of modification with verb as the head can be followed
by another verb as modifier. The verb modifier can be present
participle or infinitive form.
The townspeople came running.
He exists to survive.
In some cases, it can be found an ambiguity between verb as modifier
and verb as object.
As modifier As Object
He works to succeed. He wants to succeed.
Prepositional Phrase as a Verb Modifier
It is frequent for the prepositional phrases to modify the verb.
(He) spoke about his firsthand and vicarious experiences.
(He) came with his entourage.
ADJECTIVE AS HEAD
The word that is mostly used as modifier of adjective is qualifier.
She is very breathtaking. The sound was audible enough.
HEAD HEAD
Qualifier as an
Adjective
Modifier
ADVERBS OF DEGREE
MORE LIMITED
INTENSE STRONG
EXTENT
✓ extremely, very, ✓ rather, quite ✓ fairly, pretty,
really, too somewhat, little
It answers the question HOW MUCH. It is often used
as intensifier or qualifier to describe adjectives and
other adverbs. It either increases or decreases the
quality signified by the word it modifies.
Adverb as an Adjective Modifier
Adverb that can modify the adjective is adverb that is ended by {-ly}.
the impeccably famous (singer)
Noun as an Adjective Modifier
In some special expression, noun can modify the adjective.
stone cold (coffee)
sea green (cloth)
Verb as an Adjective Modifier
Adjective can be modified by the verb in present participle form
(-ing) that usually precedes the adjective, or by to-infinitive that
follows adjective.
freezing cold hard to say
boiling hot good to see
Adjective as an Adjective Modifier
For special expression, adjective can modify the other adjective.
icy cold dark blue deathly pale
Prepositional Phrase as an Adjective Modifier
The position of the prepositional phrases as adjective modifier
is after the adjective.
easy on the eyes good for nothing stronger than ever
ADVERB AS HEAD
There are four class words that can modify the adverb.
o Qualifiers as Adverb Modifier
very easily rather slowly
o Adverb as Adverb Modifier
far away sometimes below
o Noun as Adverb Modifier
a meter away some way up
o Prepositional Phrases as Adverb Modifier
away for a week behind in his work
QUALIFIER AS HEAD
ADVERBS OF DEGREE
MORE LIMITED
INTENSE STRONG
EXTENT
✓ extremely, very, ✓ rather, quite ✓ fairly, pretty,
really, too somewhat, little
It answers the question HOW MUCH. It is often used
as intensifier or qualifier to describe adjectives and
other adverbs. It either increases or decreases the
quality signified by the word it modifies.
Functional word can form a structure of modification by using
qualifier as modifier.
very much more (easily)
Head
rather too (strong)
Head
not quite (well)
Head
PREPOSITION AS HEAD
Preposition can be a head of structure of modification. Modifier of
preposition is qualifiers, adverbs, or nouns.
MODIFIER HEAD
very like (a whale)
almost beneath (notice)
