প্রভাষক, ঢাকা রেসিডেন্সিয়াল মডেল কলেজ

মোহাম্মদপুর, ঢাকা

Modifiers

(1) Once a farmer had a goose. It used to lay a (a) — pre-modify the noun) egg every day. The farmer used to sell them (b) — (post-modify the verb). He was happy (c) — (post-modify the adjective with an infinitive) every day. But his wife was a (d) — (pre-modify the noun) woman. She wanted (e) — (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) all egg together. Then she would be a rich woman (f) —(post-modify the verb). She cut the belly of the goose (g) — (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) her greed. (h) — (pre-modify the verb with present participle) of the goose, she found no egg there. She became (i) — (pre-modify the adjective with adverb) disappointed and lost the goose forever. She realized that it was her greed that brought her (j) — (pre-modify the noun) luck.

Answer: (a) golden; (b) in the market; (c) to get an egg; (d) greedy; (e) to get; (f) quickly; (g) to satisfy; (h) cutting the belly; (i) extremely/very; (j) bad

(2) Nelson Mandela, (a) — (post-modify the noun with an appositive), is one of the greatest leaders of the world. During (b) — (use article to pre-modify the noun) time of Mandela, the Europeans were separated from the no-Europeans. It was a (c) — (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) policy of racial segregation. The blacks were subjected to (d) — (use quantifier to pre-modify the noun) sorts of indignities. They were denied all basic (e) — (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) rights. They were in fact aliens in (f) — (use possessive to pre-modify the noun phrase) own country. The blacks were also treated (g) — (use an adverb to post-modify the verb). Even dogs received a much better treatment than the blacks. The (h) — (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) leader vowed to put an end to the inhuman practice. Unfortunately, (i) — (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) great man was thrown behind the prison bars. But the oppressive rulers could not break his sprit. All his life he struggled against apartheid. Eventually, the great leader fulfilled the goal of liberating (j) — (use possessive to pre-modify the noun) people.

Answer: (a) an icon of peace/an African President; (b) the; (c) good/government; (d) all; (e) human; (f) their ; (g) badly/cruelly; (h) great; (i) this; (j) his

(3) Othello, (a) — (use an appositive to post modify the noun) had risen to become a general. He had shown his bravery in many (b) — (use an adjective to pre-modify the noun) battles against the Turks. Every one praised him (c) — (use adverb to post modify the verb) and the senate trusted and honoured him. Brabantio, a rich senator of Venice had a daughter named Desdemona (d) — (use a relative clause to post modify the noun). Brabantio (e) — (use an adverb to pre-modify the verb) invited Othello to his house where he and his daughter listened in wonder to Othello as he spoke about his adventures. He told them of deserts, of caves and of mountains high (f) — (use an intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) to touch the sky. Desdemona had to weep (g) — (use present participle to post modify the verb phrase) and she never became tired of listening to it. She pitied Othello (h) — (use an adverb to post modify the verb) for the misfortune and hardships of his life. Her pity (i) — (use an adverb to post modify the verb) turned to love. She refused all the young men (j) — (use an infinitive to post-modify the verb) because she loved Othello, a noble Muslim Moor from North Africa.

Answer: (a) a black moor/a brave soldier; (b) bloody/fierce/fearful/dangerous; (c) highly; (d) who loved him/who was very beautiful; (e) often/sometimes; (f) enough; (g) listening to his stories/hearing; (h) heavily/much; (i) soon/finally; (j) to marry

(4) Books are (a) — (pre-modify the adjective with an intensifier) essential for us. They help us (b) — (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) knowledge. (c) — (pre-modify the verb with a present participle) books, we can know everything. They show us the (d) — (pre-modify the noun) way. Books can be our (e) — (pre-modify the noun) friends. They help us (f) — (post modify the verb with an infinitive) our mind. They improve our (g) — (pre-modify the noun) power. They give us solace to our (h) — (pre-modify the noun|) mind. Besides reading (i) — (pre-modify the noun) books, students should read other books. If they read other books, they will be able to know everything (j) — (post modify the verb).

Answer: (a) very; (b) to gain; (c) reading; (d) true; (e) best ; (f) to develop; (g) thinking ; (h) disturbed; (i) text; (j) properly

(5) One day Robert Bruce, (a) — (post-modify the noun with appositive), was lying in the cave. He was thinking of (b) — (use possessive to pre-modify the noun) misfortune. He thought that he would not be able (c) — (use an infinitive phrase to post-modify, the verb). Suddenly, he saw a spider (d) — (post-modify the verb with a prepositional/an adverbial of place). The spider was trying to reach (e) — (use determiner to pre-modify the noun) ceiling of the cave. It almost got to the point (f) — (use quantifier to pre-modify the noun) times, but fell down at the last moment. It did not lose hope. It was trying (g) — (post-modify the verb with an adverbial). On the seventh attempt it reached the ceiling. Robert Bruce became very much amayed (h) — (use an infinitive phrase to post-modify the verb) the success of the spider. He felt encouraged and came out of the cave and began to gather soldiers again. He remembered the small spider and prepared (i) — (post modify the verb with an adverb) for the battle. He fought hard with the English and (j) — (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) time, he came out successful. Strong will and perseverance made Robert Bruce the king of Scotland again.

Answer: (a) the king of Scotland; (b) his; (c) to regain his lost kingdom ; (d) in the cave; (e) the; (f) several; (g) again and again/to reach the ceiling; (h) to see; (i) well/ soon/ completely; (j) this

(6) I had gathered a peculiar experience (a) — (post modify the verb) while travelling to St. Martin's Island. I visited the island along with my family. Zahid, (b) — (post modify the noun with an appositive) was my guide. On the way to the island, we watched (c) — (demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) sea gulls. The (d) — (pre-modify the noun) birds were flying (e) — (post-modify the verb) with the ship. They became (f) — (use an intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) dear and friendly to us. We entertained them with biscuits; (g) — them (use a present participle to pre-modify the verb) we became (h) — (use an intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) excited. We decided (i) — (use an infinitive phrase to post modify the verb) in the idyllic island for a couple of days. We can never forget (j) — (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the adjective phrase to post modify the verb) lovely sea birds.

Answer: (a) a few days ago/unexpectedly; (b) a local boy; (c) those; (d) beautiful; (e) elegantly/ along; (f) very; (g) entertaining/ taming/ feeding; (h) very; (i) to stay; (j) those