Chapter 17: Using Modifiers
By Mrs. Anderson
Adjective and Adverb Forms
•	If a word describes the subject of the sentence, use an adjective.
–	The swimmer was skillful. (predicate adj.)
•	Linking verbs are usually followed by a predicate adjective: be, become, seem, grow, appear, look, feel, smell, taste, remain, stay sound.
•	If a word describes the verb, use an adverb.
–	He swims skillfully (how does he swim?)
Bad and Badly
•	Bad is an adjective
–	The dog was bad.
–	The milk smelled bad.
–	He feels bad about the accident.
•	Badly is an adverb
–	The dog behaved badly.
–	The old roof leaked badly
–	He pitched the ball badly.
Well and Good
•	Well is an adjective or adverb.
–	Fran is well.  She seems well. (in good health)
–	She looks well in red. (well dressed)
–	Everything is well. (satisfactory)
•	Good is always an adjective.
–	That color looks good on you.
–	He is a good student.
Slow and Slowly
•	Slow is an adjective or adverb.
–	The slow lady drove carefully. (adj)
–	The old lady drove slow. (adv)
•	Slowly is always an adverb.
–	The bottles moved slowly on the conveyor.
–	Slowly awakening, I hit the alarm. 
Comparison of Modifiers
Irregular Modifiers
Comparative vs. Superlative
•	Use comparative forms when comparing two things.
–	Our old house was larger than this one
–	Omaha is nearer than Joplin.
•	Use superlative forms when comparing three or more things.
–	Meg is the worst sleeper in our family.
–	Of all my friends, Victor is the best speaker.
Clarity of Comparisons
•	Avoid double comparisons:
–	The most scariest movie is It.
–	Who is more prettier, Suzy or Sally?
•	Be sure your comparisons are clear:
–	The Millers would rather plant and harvest their own vegetables than [buy] canned ones.
–	I know you better than [I know] Mrs. Kyle. OR
–	I know you better than Mrs. Kyle does.
Dangling Modifiers
•	A phrase or clause that does not clearly describe a word in the sentence.
–	Going to the store, a building was on fire.
–	Going to the store, I saw a building on fire.
–	To qualify for the Olympics, many trial heats must be won.
–	To qualify for the Olympics, he must win many trial heats.  
Misplaced Modifiers
•	Words, phrases, and clauses should be placed next to the word they modify.
–	Who is the jogger with the blue bird on his shoulder wearing sunglasses?
–	Who is the jogger wearing sunglasses with the blue bird on his shoulder?
–	We learned that Emily Dickinson died unpublished in our English class.
–	We learned in our English class that Emily Dickinson died unpublished.