Sentence Modifiers

1
Sentence Modifiers

• Words, phrases and clauses that modify entire
  clauses or sentences rather than single words

2
Some examples of sentence modifiers

• Without a doubt, the election will be won by a
  major party candidate.
• John, to our astonishment, walked away from the
  plane crash unhurt.
• Perhaps Susan will take over the presidency.
• Allison, can you be here by ten a.m.?
• Oh wow, I never thought Id meet her!

3
Common Sentence Modifiers

• Vocatives nouns of direct address
• Gentlemen, please start your engines!
• Interjections
• Oh no, it cant be due tomorrow!
• Appositives (of an entire clause)
• We went to Disney World yet again this springmy
  husbands worst nightmare!
• He danced his victory dance, his inevitable
  response to an Eagles touchdown.
• Note that many grammarians could see this NP his
  . . . touchdown as an appositive. This is a
  gray area!

4
Adverbs and Sentence Modifiers

• Since verbs are the MOST IMPORTANT element in a
  clause, and since adverbs modify verbs, it can be
  difficult to draw a distinction between adverbs
  that clearly modify an entire clause, and those
  that only modify the verb in that clause
• Jane is clearly the best candidate.
• clearly can modify the entire sentence.
• We can finally see clearly now that the sun is
  fully risen.
• clearly modifies the verb phrase can see

5
Some adverb clauses act as whole sentence
modifiers

• Adverb clauses introduced by if, since, as and
  although are usually whole sentence modifiers.
• If you agree, Ill end the meeting early.
• We went to Spain on vacation, since it was the
  only destination on which we all agreed.
• As the bell rang, chaos erupted in the school.
• Ill join the party, although Id rather stay
  home.
• Please note that all of these clauses are also
  arguably modifiers of the main clause verbs!

6
Absolute constructions (compare to ablative
absolutes in Latin)

• The absolute in English is a noun phrase that
  includes a post-noun modifier
• an en or an ing participle
• The train having been derailed, our journey was
  delayed.
• Her body shaking, she failed to fool the prison
  guards.
• an adjective prepositional phrase
• The dog by his side, he looked the picture of
  innocence.
• a noun phrase
• Her dress a vision of beauty, Ann was married
  today.

7
Second Amendment

• A well regulated Militia being necessary to the
  security of a free State, the right of the people
  to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.
  modern punctuation
• right
  shall be infringed

to
of
not
the
keep
people
bear arms
the
and
Infinitive phrase pattern 7 / main clause passive
7
8
Broad reference relative clause

• Found in speech undesirable in formal written
  English.
• She won the departmental honors, which angered
  everyone who knew she was a liar and a cheat.
• which has no single noun antecedent in the main
  clause
• Tim cleaned the bathroom, which made his
  roommates suspect that he had been stolen by
  aliens and replaced by an android.

9
Elliptical clauses with than and as

• These are NOT sentence modifiers!
• Ann is tons smarter than her sister! . . . is
• Ann is tons smarter than her sister is smart!
• so you write Ann is tons smarter than she!
• Bob is as tall as Tim. . . . is
• Bob is as tall as Tim is tall.
• so you write Bob is as tall as he.
• Peter also attended lessons, but John taught
  Mark better than him means John taught Mark
  better than John taught Peter.
• Peter also attended lessons, but John taught
  Mark better than he means John taught Mark
  better than Peter taught Mark.