Modifiers
A
modifier is a word, phrase, or clause which functions as an adjective or an
adverb to describe a word or make its meaning more specific.
Examples of
Modifiers : Modifiers
can play the roles of adjectives or adverbs.
Ø Modifiers As Adjectives
- Lee caught a small mackerel.
(Here, the adjective small modifies the noun mackerel.)
- Lee caught a small mackerel.
(Don't forget that articles (i.e.,
the, an, and a) are adjectives too. Here, a
modifies the noun mackerel as does small.)
- Lee caught another one.
(Here, the adjective another modifies the pronoun one.)
Ø Modifiers As Adverbs
- Lee accidentally caught a small whelk.
(Here, the adverb accidentally modifies the verb caught.)
- Lee caught an incredibly small mackerel.
(Here, the adverb incredibly modifies the adjective small.)
- Lee supposedly accidentally caught a small whelk.
(Here, the adverb supposedly modifies the adverb accidentally.)
Exercise : Modifiers
In some sentence in
Part A of the Structure and Written Expression Section, you will be asked to
identify the correct modifier. A modifier can be an adjective or an adjectival
phrase that describes a noun or an –ing form. A modifier can also be an adverb
or an adverbial phrase that adds information abaout the verb, adjective, or
another verb. Adjectives do not change for to agree with the nouns or –ing forms that they describe, but some adjectives are used only
with count nouns and others are used only with noncounts nouns.
1. Sam
usually does his work very .......... and well, but today he seemed a little
preoccupied.
a.careful b. carefully
c. careful manner d.care
2. Besides
being expensive, the food in the cafeteria tastes .....
a.badly b.too
badly
c. too much bad d. bad
3. ............
here since 1976 when her parents moved from New York.
a.She’s lived b.She’s living
c.
She was living d.She’d
live
4. We’ll
get .......... by train if we leave tonight.
a.
there fast enough b.fast
enough there
c. there enough fast d.enough
fast there
5. If
the cab arrives .......... , you will miss your flight.
a.lately b.lateness
c. more later d. late
6. It
was ........ that we went camping in the mountains last weekend.
a.such nice weather b. so nice a weather
c. too nice weather d.nice weather so
7. The
homecoming football game will be played on ..........
a.two September b. the second of September
c. September two d.the
two of September
8. Mary
overslepts and was ...... late that she missed her bus.
a.so b. much
c.
too d.very
9. Could
you please tell me the .......... for Biology 457 and Chemistry 610
a.rooms numbers b.rooms
number
c. room’s number d. room numbers
10.
I think it’s ....... to take a few more
pictures.
a.enough light b.light
as enough
c.
light enough d.enough as
light
11.
Last Sunday was ....... that we took a
drive in the country.
a.
so beautiful a day b.such
as a beautiful a day
c. so beautiful day d.such
a beuatiful weather
12.
The conference was organized for all of the
........ in the state
a.
mathematic teachers b.mathematics
teachers
c. mathematics teacher d.mathematic’s
teachers
13.
It is difficult fo find a ...... in the
Washington area for less than $1200 a month
a.
two-bedroom apartment b.two-bedrooms
apartment
c. two-bedrooms apartments d.two-bedroom
apartments
14.
I am especially glad that Bob decided to
come to the party because we hadn’t seen him ........ several months
a.since b.
until
c. before d. for
15.
John and I like to watch the games on TV
because we can see more ......... than we could from a seat in the stadium
a.clear b.clearness
c.
clearly d.clearer
Connectors
Connectors
show the relationship between the ideas in two clauses. There are 3
kinds of connectors that we use to
join clauses in sentences. They are coordinators,
subordinators, and transitions.
Ø
Coordinators are
used to join two independent clauses. The coordinators are and, for, so, but, yet, or and nor.
Usually a comma is put before the coordinator.
Examples:
·
The office is closed for the next
two days, but you can still phone to leave a message.
·
I forgot my computer disc, so
I will have to hand in my assignment late.
Ø
Subordinators join
a dependent clause to an independent clause. Examples of subordinators are before, when, if, because and although. They are used before the
dependent clause. They can be used in two positions:
1) The subordinator and dependent clause can come before the
independent clause with a comma.
Example : When the
bell rang, the students ran to the sky-train station.
2) The subordinator and dependent clause can come after the
independent clause with no comma.
Example : The students ran to the sky-train station when
the bell rang.
Ø
Transitions are
used between two independent clauses. Examples of transitions are however, besides, nevertheless and furthermore. After the first clause, use
a semi-colon, then the transition, then a comma, and then the second clause.
Examples:
The students laughed; however, the instructor was not trying to be funny.
Exercise : Connectors
In some sentences In Part A of the Structure and Written
Expression Section, you will be asked to identify the correct connector. A connector
is a word or phrase that joins words, phrases, or clauses. A connector
expresses relationships between the words, phrases and clauses that it joins.
Some common relationships are cause and result, contradiction, substitution,
addition, exception, example, and purpose.
1.
We are considering buying a house in
Gainesville, but we want to find out ...... there first.
a.
what the taxes are b.what are the taxes
c.the taxes what are d.the
taxes are
2. Betty
moved form the dormitory ........ the noise.
a.because b. because of
c.cause d.caused from
3. I
didn’t hear ..... when he gave us the assignment.
a.
what the professor says b.that
the professor said
c.what the professor said d.which the
professor says
4. He
had to borrow a little money from his brother ...... he could finish his
education without working.
a.so as b.that
c.
so that d.in
order so
5. I
wonder where ........
a.he did go b.did he go
c.
he went d.went
he
6. Both
Marry and Ellen, ....... Jane, are studying nursing at New York University.
a.
as well as b.
well
c. as well to d.
and well as
7. We
had a disagreement ........ the bus was late.
a.because of b.caused of
c.
because d.cause
8. ...........
the light rain, the baseball game will not be cancelled unless the other team
concedes.
a.
Despite of b.Despite
in
c.In spite d.Despite
9. I
don’t have any idea what ......... for graduation
a.Does she want b.
She wants
c.She want d.is she
wanting
10. We
were both pleased .......... honored to be guests of the president.
a. as b.and
11. I
wonder ..... on sale
a.how much cost these shoes b.how much do these
shoes cost
c.
how much these shoes cost d.how
much are these shoes cost
12. We
moved to the front row ....... we could hear and see better.
a.so as b. so that
c.such d.such that
13. James
plays not only on the basketball squad ......
a.but on the baseball team b.but on the
baseball team also
c.also on the baseball team d. but also on the baseball team
14. ..........
his wealth, he is not spoiled.
a. Despite of b.In spite of
c.In despite d.In spite
15. Could
you please tell me where ...... ?
a.
Is the nearest bus stop located b.the nearest bus stop is located
c.is located the nearest bus stop d.located is the nearest
bus stop
References : Max D’One – Toefl Preparation &
Prediction Test 2011
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