1. A modifier is a word or group of words that describes a noun or a verb.
1. One type is an appositive, a noun phrase that describes another noun.
Examples:
Zac wrote this guide.
→ Zac, “the aphorist”, wrote this guide.
Julia spent the summer campaigning.
→ Julia, “the candidate’s wife”, spent the summer campaigning.
He made a great point.
→ He made a great point, “a point that everybody ignored”.
1.1 You can also use an appositive to describe a verb.
Example:
She learned 10 languages.
→ She learned 10 languages, “a feat few people can accomplish”.
2. A non-restrictive modifier is one that can be placed almost anywhere in a sentence, without being bound to a noun or a verb.
Example:
He “carefully” defused the bomb.
→ He defused the bomb “carefully”.
“Today” I scored five goals.
→ I scored five goals “today”.
Put this type of modifier near (or sometimes between) the words you want to modify. Or if you want to emphasize it, put it at the end of the sentence.
2.1 Progressive (continuing) phrases and passive voice phrases are often non-restrictive.
Examples:
“Wanting to help the community”, he volunteered.
→ He volunteered, “wanting to help the community”.
“Almost bankrupt by thoughtless spending”, the company became very frugal.
→ The company, “almost bankrupt by thoughtless spending”, became very frugal.
2.2 Adjectives that describe a noun and adverbs that describe a verb can be nonrestrictive.
Examples:
The guard, “armed and ready”, fought off two prisoners.
→ “Armed and ready”, the guard fought off two prisoners.
He “tactfully” questioned the officers.
→ “Tactfully”, he questioned the officers.
2.3 Place words and time words are usually nonrestrictive.
Examples:
He stood “in the basement”.
→ “In the basement”, he stood.
“As the sun rose”, she was jogging.
→ She was jogging “as the sun rose”.
3. An absolute phrase is one with a noun and a modifier. It has the effect of zooming in on a detail.
Examples:
The boy waited for news.
→ “Hands fidgeting”, the boy waited for news.
He saw the ruins.
→ He saw the ruins, “the palace gone”, “his monuments destroyed”.
There he was, dead.
→ There he was, dead, “a gun in his grip”.
Modifiers can distract readers from the main point of a sentence. Only use modifiers when it bolsters your point.
0. Endnote
This section was short; but I hope you found it informative. If you enjoyed learning by reading through this list, you might enjoy reading my book The Five Elements of Humor. It’s one small list of a 100 joke techniques, with accompanying examples.
As always, thanks for reading,
Zac Toa
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