Intervening Modifiers: Adding Details Without Disrupting Flow
Intervening modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that interrupt the main flow of a sentence to add extra information. They usually describe a noun or pronoun, and they are set off from the rest of the sentence by commas, dashes, or parentheses.
Key Features:
* Describe a noun or pronoun: They provide additional details about a specific element in the sentence.
* Interrupt the main flow: They break the main subject-verb-object structure, adding information outside the core sentence.
* Set off by punctuation: Commas, dashes, or parentheses separate them from the rest of the sentence.
Types of Intervening Modifiers:
* Appositives: A noun or noun phrase that renames or clarifies the noun it follows.
* Participial Phrases: Phrases that act as adjectives, ending in "-ing" or "-ed."
* Adjective Clauses: Dependent clauses that function as adjectives, usually starting with relative pronouns like "who," "which," or "that."
* Prepositional Phrases: Phrases that begin with a preposition and function as adjectives or adverbs.
* Absolute Phrases: Phrases that modify the whole sentence and are usually set off by commas.
Examples:
1. Appositive: "The dog, a golden retriever named Max, barked at the mailman."
2. Participial Phrase: "The man running down the street tripped and fell."
3. Adjective Clause: "The book that I borrowed from the library was very interesting."
4. Prepositional Phrase: "The house on the hill is for sale."
5. Absolute Phrase: "His head spinning, the boy stumbled out of the room."
Why Use Intervening Modifiers?
* Add clarity and detail: They provide extra information about the main subject or verb.
* Improve sentence structure: They break up long sentences and make them more readable.
* Enhance writing style: They can add a touch of sophistication and depth to your writing.
Common Mistakes with Intervening Modifiers:
* Misplaced Modifiers: A modifier that modifies the wrong word or phrase, leading to confusion.
* Dangling Modifiers: A modifier that doesn't have a clear subject to modify, creating a grammatical error.
Understanding and using intervening modifiers correctly can help you write clear, concise, and engaging sentences.