Pick out the modifier and show which word it modifies.

(Adjective)
Click each sentence for its answer.
1. He tied red and orange ribbons round the present.
1. He tied red and orange ribbons round the present. (Both colors red and orange modify the noun
ribbons.)
2. For years, we kept a pet dog that gave us much joy.
2. For years, we kept a pet dog that gave us much joy. (The word pet modifies and describes the dog.)
3. A strong wind swept through the countryside.
3. A strong wind swept through the countryside. (Strong modifies the noun wind.)
4. Dark clouds were gathering in the west.
4. Dark clouds were gathering in the west. (The clouds are described as dark.)
5. If we are quick, there will be tickets available.
5. If we are quick, there will be tickets available. (Quick modifies we, and available modifies tickets.)
6. The film was short but exciting.
6. The film was short but exciting. (Short and exciting modify the film.)
7. He was nervous and shaking on stage.
7. He was nervous and shaking on stage. (Nervous and shaking modify how he felt while he was on
stage.)
8. This is the best movie we have watched.
8. This is the best movie we have watched. (The adjective best describes the movie as the best we have
watched.)
9. The exam is hard to pass.
9. The exam is hard to pass. (Hard describes the difficulty in passing the exam.)
10. Pesticides are harmful to the environment.
10. Pesticides are harmful to the environment. (Harmful modifies pesticides. It tells about the harm
pesticides can cause to the environment)

Pick out the modifier and show which word it modifies. (Adverb)
1. Sue sat silently throughout the meal.
1. Sue sat silently throughout the meal. (The adverb silently modifies sat. It answers the question of how
she sat during the meal.)
2. I rarely interrupt when other people are speaking.
2. I rarely interrupt when other people are speaking. (Rarely modifies interrupt which tells us how
infrequently I interrupt others.)
3. She suddenly left the party.
3. She suddenly left the party. (Suddenly modifies the verb left, telling us in what manner the girl left the
party.)
4. He receives his copy of the magazine monthly.
4. He receives his copy of the magazine monthly. (Monthly modifies receives. It tells us how often he
receives his magazine.)
5. My father often reads the newspaper in bed.
5. My father often reads the newspaper in bed. (Often is an adverb and it modifies reads and we know
the reading is not done every night.)
6. We finally decided to stay where we were.
6. We finally decided to stay where we were. (Finally modifies decided to show that at last a decision
was made.)
7. Jack and Jill regularly visit their parents.
7. Jack and Jill regularly visit their parents. (Regularly is the modifier of visit. The adverb regularly is used
to show how often they visit their parents.)
8. There is someone standing outside the door.
8. There is someone standing outside the door. (Outside, by modifying the verb standing, indicates
where the someone stands.)
9. He is quite serious about resigning.
9. He is quite serious about resigning. (Quite is an adverb that modifies the adjective serious.
10. The girls are kept separately from the boys.
10. The girls are kept separately from the boys. (Separately modifies kept. So how are the girls and boys
kept? Not together.)
11. At their age, they are still playing tennis.
11. At their age, they are still playing tennis. (Using still, an adverb, to show they are still playing tennis
when they are no longer young.)
12. Perhaps, you'd like to join us for a drink?
12. Perhaps, you'd like to join us for a drink? (Perhaps expresses uncertainty or possibility, and it
modifies the whole sentence.)
13. He came rushing upstairs after his sister.
13. He came rushing upstairs after his sister. (The word upstairs modifies rushing, and it lets us know
where he was rushing to.)
14. We only see each other occasionally.
14. We see each other occasionally. (The adverb occasionally modifies the verb see to show that we
meet irregularly.)
15. Tony walked fast for the toilet.
15. Tony walked fast for the toilet. (The adverb fast, by modifying walk, conveys the speed of the walk.)
QUIZ
Pick out the modifier and show which word it modifies. (Adjective)

1. Dark clouds were gathering in the west.

2. The exam is hard to pass.
3. Pesticides are harmful to the environment.
4. He tied red and orange ribbons round the present.
5. A strong wind swept through the countryside

Pick out the modifier and show which word it modifies. (Adverb)
1. I rarely interrupt when other people are speaking.
2. We only see each other occasionally.
3. My father often reads the newspaper in bed.
4. Jack and Jill regularly visit their parents.
5. Tony walked fast for the toilet.