Modifiers that Specify

Modifiers that Specify: Modifiers Explained

To understand modifiers that specify, you need to understand modifiers in general. Here's a refresher.

Modifiers function as either adjectives or adverbs. A modifier that adds information to a noun or pronoun acts as an adjective. It acts as an adverb if it adds information to a verb, adjective, or adverb.

Fig. 1 - Nested modifiers modifying modifiers.

Modifiers can stack together in a phrase, clause, or sentence. A modifier can modify another modifier: for example, an adverb can modify an adjective, which modifies a noun.

The word being modified is called the head, or the head word. You'll see specific examples of head words and tips on identifying them later!

Meaning of Modifiers that Specify

The term modifiers that specify doesn't refer to a grammatical function, but to a function of meaning.

What does that mean, exactly? Take a look at this example:

This is the purpose of a specifier: to narrow down the meaning of an otherwise vague or non-specific word.

Rules of Modifiers that Specify

Specifiers aren't limited to one part of speech. They can take multiple forms, including:

• determiners: the, that, an, a, this ...
• possessives: my, your, Jamie's, their ...
• degree words: very, hardly, rather, relatively ...

These are some of the most common types of specifiers, although not all specifiers fit into one of these three categories.

Determiners

Determiners are words like articles, numbers, and other adjectives. In the example every sandwich tastes the same, the word every is a determiner.

A determiner comes before the head noun or head pronoun. It can specify whether the head is general, specific, or whether it is one or many.

Possessives

Possessives are modifiers that show possession. They include some pronouns, as well as nouns ending in -'s.

A possessive typically comes before the head noun.

In some less common scenarios, a possessive can appear after the head noun, in the form of a prepositional phrase.

Degree words

Degree words are a kind of adverb. They specifically modify adjectives and other adverbs to show scale.

Degree words come before the head adverb or head adjective.

Examples of Modifiers that Specify

Specifiers are a type of modifier that comes in different forms such as:

• articles (a, an, the)
• demonstratives (this, that, these, those)
• possessives (my, your, his, her)
• and numbers (one, two, three)

Here's an example: in the phrase "Those four big cats," "Those," "four," and "big" are specifiers giving specific detail about the noun "cats." Now here is a closer look at sentences with specifiers.

Fig. 1 -

In this example, somewhat modifies the head adverb fluently. Because it modifies an adverb, somewhat is also an adverb. It is a degree word because it specifies how fluently he speaks Spanish.

In this example, my modifies the head noun lunch. Because it modifies a noun, my is an adjective. It is possessive because it specifies ownership.

Identification of Modifiers that Specify

In the previous examples, the modifiers that specify were highlighted. But how would you identify an unmarked specifier in a sentence? Following these two steps will help you identify modifiers that specify:

1. Identify the head of the modifier.
2. Determine whether the modifier specifies the meaning of the head.

This example demonstrates both steps:

This example focuses on two modifiers: delicious and completely. Each modifier may or may not be a specifier.

The first step is to identify the head of the modifier. To do this, ask yourself, "[modifier] what?" The answer to this question is the head.

Now that you've identified the head of the modifier, the next step is to determine whether the modifier specifies the meaning of the head. To do this, rewrite the sentence without the modifier, then decide whether the head is vaguer or less specific.

Following these steps will help you recognize modifiers that specify in a text.