Adjective phrase modifiers are words and phrases that that modify or describe an adjective or adjective phrase. Unlike adjective phrase complements that complete the meaning of an adjective or adjective phrase, adjective phrase modifiers describe an adjective or adjective phrase. Only one grammatical form can function as the adjective phrase modifier in English grammar: adverb phrases.
Adverb Phrases as Adjective Phrase Modifiers
The only grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of adjective phrase modifier is the adverb phrase. An adverb phrase consists of an adverb plus any other adverbs functioning as adverb phrase modifiers. For example, the following italicized adverb phrases function as adjective phrase modifiers:
- She wore a bright pink sweater to school.
- He enjoys rather unusual combinations of food.
- My daughter is an exceptionally clever child.
- The annoyingly loud students bothered the entire library.
- A woman wearing an obscenely short dress just walked in.
- Your baby is quite beautiful.
- That plaid couch is much too hideous for my tastes.
- Some of my classmates were very nearly tardy.
The only grammatical form that can function as the adjective phrase modifier in the English language is the adverb phrase.
Summary
Adjective phrase modifiers in English grammar are words and phrases that that modify or describe an adjective or adjective phrase.
Adjective phrase modifier is a grammatical function.
The grammatical form that can function as the adjective phrase modifier in English grammar is the adverb phrase.
Adjective phrase modifiers are constituents of the adjective phrase.
References
Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
