A complicated idea can be added to a simple sentence through a means of modification. The modification can be done at a noun or a verb. This unit focuses at the means of noun modification and verb modification.

Noun Modification:

1. Pre-noun modification:

Adjectives, nouns, and/or verbal words can be placed in front of a head noun to describe it.

Adjectives:

An adjective or a series of adjectives can be placed in front of the head noun. The simpliest rule is adjectives indicating opinion come before adjectives indicating facts. For example:

The pictures reminded me of those good old days in my childhood.

Adjectives that qualify the head noun may be intensified by an adverb as well. However, it is important to understand that such adverb is used only to explain the degree of the adjective, and not the noun. For example:

Beverly is one of our exceptionally skillful worker.

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

Abraham Lincoln

Another form that is worth noting is adjective-Noun+ed. This form is used especially when we talk about parts of body. For example:

The long-legged girls attract me.

Carol is the red-haired girl who is sitting by the guest speaker.

Noun:

A noun may be used to explain the head noun. Keep in mind that the form has to be noun in the singular form only can qualify the head noun.

The paste which is used for cleaning teeth is called toothpaste, not teethpaste.

Thank you for your garden flowers. They were absolutely gorgeous!

The speaker was talking about the flowers which were planted in the garden, and not the garden itself.

Verbal Words:

A verbal word not a verbal phrase can modify the head noun. These verbal words take either Ving or V3 form. They can also be qualified by an adverb. For example:

Diana became one of our highly trained officer after she completed the 1-year workshop.

The well-written essay is constructed from interesting ideas, grammatically correct sentences, and good organization.

2. Postnoun modification:

When the information that a writer wants to explain the noun, he can use a clause which is called an adjective clause or a relative clause. This clause has to be placed after the noun that it modifies.

An adjective clause is introduced by a relative pronoun, which can be who, whom, which, that, whose, when, where, why, and how.

A writer should be careful when using an adjective clause. An adjective clause is composed of a subject which may be the relative pronoun of the clause or another noun/pronoun, and a predicate which necessarily starts with a verb that agrees with the subject.

For example:

1. The students who are attentive in class will definitely pass the exam.

2. The students whom the teacher punished was sent to a hospital.

3. The school which banned cellphone use is being investigated.

4. The place that Jennifer owns will be sold soon.

5. The man whose daughter was accepted to a prestigious university in England will be our guest speaker today.

6. Songkran is the time when people from cities return to their hometowns.

7. Venice is the place where roads are made of water.

8. Fay can never understand the reason why the teacher refused to give her a makeup test.

9. This is the way how you should react under the circumstances.

The adjective clause can be reduced into the following phrases whose name suggest its beginning word. This reduced form can be done by dropping the relative pronoun and change the form of the verb into either Ving or V3. An exception goes only to the noun phrase, also called an appositive, where the 'be' verb is usually dropped too.

1. An adjective phrase

The lady who is beautiful in the elegant black dress is walking towards the boss.

The lady beautiful in the elegant black dress is walking towards the boss.

The lady who looks beautiful in the elegant black dress is walking towards the boss.

Note that when its comes to linking verb, the writer has two options. He can either says

The lady who looks beautiful in the elegant black dress is walking towards the boss.

The lady who looks looking beautiful in the elegant black dress is walking towards the boss.

2. A noun phrase (Appositive phrase)

The Finance Director, whose name is John Schmidt, will be invited to the ground-breaking ceremony this saturday.

The Finance Director, who is John Schmidt, will be invited to the ground-breaking ceremony this saturday.

The Finance Director, John Schmidt, will be invited to the ground-breaking ceremony this saturday.

Note that instead of changing the form of 'be' verb to 'being' is not used in this case.

3. A prepositional phrase

The prepositional phrase literally starts with a preposition and the preposition is always followed by a noun. The form of an adjective clause that is composed of a prepositional phrase, therefore, is

Relative pronoun + be + preposition + noun

The red brick house which is down Second Street will be torn down soon.

The red brick house which is down Second Street will be torn down soon.

4. A verbal phrase

There are three forms of the verbal phrase that can qualify a noun, namely:

1. Ving: For VI and VT with active construction

The highly-priced condominium that belongs to John's sister was sold last week.

The highly-priced condominium that belongs belonging to John's sister was sold last week.

2. V3: For verbs with passive construction

The furniture which is manufactured by Zwood is of excellent quality.

The furniture which is manufactured by Zwood is of excellent quality.

3. To infinitive: For verbs that indicates purpose

The plan which was to build another dam was discouraged when the opposition party severely criticized it.

The plan which was to build another dam was discouraged when the opposition party severely criticized it.