"Thank You Ma'm" by Langston Hughs Questions

Modifiers Make Meanings More Definite
Suppose you have to read two short stories for homework. The first story begins with this sentence:
A woman sat.
You put the first story aside and pick up the second. Its first sentence catches your attention:
A large woman with a purse sat next to me.
What makes the second sentence more interesting to read? Modifiers. A modifier is a word or
group of words that makes another word more specific. Adjectives, adverbs, and phrases that
function as adjectives and adverbs are all modifiers.
Adjectives and Adjective Phrases
Adjectives and adjective phrases answer the following questions about the nouns or pronouns
they modify.
Adverbs and Adverb Phrases
Adverbs and adverb phrases answer the following questions about the verbs, adjectives, other
adverbs, or entire sentences that they modify.
Elements of Literature Grammar and Language Link Worksheets 11
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
NAME CLASS DATE
Language Link
• What kind? Mrs. Jones has a large purse. [The adjective large modifies the noun
purse by telling what kind of purse.]
Roger wants a pair of blue suede shoes. [The adjectives blue and suede
modify the noun shoes by telling what kind of shoes.]
• Which one? The purse with long straps could contain a hammer and nails.
[The prepositional phrase with long straps acts as an adjective, telling
which purse.]
The boy stunned by Mrs. Jones waits for her to speak. [The participial
phrase stunned by Mrs. Jones modifies the noun boy, telling which one.]
• How many or Mrs. Jones has little money in her purse. [The adjective little tells how
how much? much money.]
Mrs. Jones describes several women who patronize the beauty shop.
[The adjective several tells how many women.]
• Where? Roger moves over. [The adverb over modifies the verb moves.]
Mrs. Jones walks along the street. [The prepositional phrase along
the street acts as an adverb and makes the verb walks more specific.]
• When? Mrs. Jones eats dinner late. Roger sees Mrs. Jones at eleven o’clock.
• How often? Roger often acts impulsively. Occasionally, Roger felt guilty about
having tried to take Mrs. Jones’s purse.
• In what way? Roger wants to run away quickly. He wants to run like the wind.
• To what extent? Roger desperately wants blue suede shoes.
Exercise A Identifying Modifiers
For each of the following sentences, draw an arrow from the italicized modifier to the word it
makes more specific. On the line before the sentence, write whether the modifier is an adjective,
an adverb, an adjective phrase, or an adverb phrase. Finally, on the line after the sentence, write the
question the modifier answers.
EXAMPLE: She carries a black purse.
1. Mrs. Jones takes Roger to her room.
2. Roger eats the meal with a passion.
3. “That meal was delicious,” Roger thinks.
4. Mrs. Jones works at a nearby beauty shop.
5. Mrs. Jones trusts Roger completely.
Exercise B Adding Detail with Modifiers
On the lines below, revise each of the following sentences by adding a modifier to the italicized
word to make the sentence more colorful. The modifier should be a vivid adjective, adverb,
adjective phrase, or adverb phrase. In parentheses, identify the type of modifier you use in each
sentence.
EXAMPLE: Roger looks at the purse.
1. The purse lands on the ground with a thump!
2. Mrs. Jones drags Roger.
3. Roger washes his face.
4. Laughter comes from the other part of the house.
5. Roger thanks Mrs. Jones.
Roger looks longingly at the purse. (adverb)
adjective What kind?
12 Grammar and Language Link Worksh