Use of Modifier

1. One day Robert Bruce, (a) ---- (post-modify the noun with an 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 phrase/ 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 amazed (h) ------ (Use an infinitive 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.

2. Once there lived a (a) ---- (pre-modify the noun with an adjective) fox in a jungle. One day, while he
was walking (b) ------ (post-modify the verb with an adverb) through the jungle he fell into a trap and
lost his tail. He felt (c) ----- (pre-modify the adjective an intensifier) unhappy and sad. But the fox was
very cunning. He hit upon a plan. He invited all the foxes (d) ------ (post-modify the verb with an
infinitive) to a meeting. When all the foxes arrived, the fox without a tail said, ‘My dear friends, listen
to me, please. I have discovered a (e) ------ (pre-modify the noun with an adjective) thing. It is that our
tails are (f) ------ (pre-modify the adjective with an adverb) useless. They look ugly and dirty. So, we all
should cut off our tails, shouldn't we?’ All foxes listened to the cunning fox (g) ----- (post-modify the
verb with an adverb). Most of them agreed (h) ---- (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) their tails.
But an old and (i) ------ (pre-modify the noun with an adjective) fox said to him, ‘My friend, your plan is
nice but actually, you want to cut off our tails because you have (j) ---- (pre-modify the noun with a
determiner) tail of your own.’

3. It is difficult (a) ---- (post-modify the adjective with an infinitive) in Bangladesh if you do not have any
experience of driving here. Drivers change lanes (b) ---- (post-modify the verb). As a foreigner you may
find (c) ---- (pre-modify the noun) changing without signals quite distressing. Many drivers are not at
all aware of (d) ---- (pre-modify the noun) signals, Auto-rickshaws and rickshaws move in and out in a
(e) ----- (pre-modify the noun) way. They try (f) ----- (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) whenever
they find some space. Sometimes drivers drive (g) ------ (post-modify the verb) to reach their
destinations. This often causes serious (h) ----- (pre-modify the noun ‘with a noun-adjective) accidents.
(i) ----- (pre-modify the verb with a present participle phrase), it is not easy to move with your car here.
If you want to move (j) ---- (post-modify the verb), you have to practice driving for some days.

4. Kuakata, (a) ---- (use an appositive to post-modify the noun) is a rare scenic spot of Patuakhali
district. (b)---- (use determiner) name Kuakata takes (c)---- (use possessive) origin from the story of a
Kua or well dug on the seashore by the early Rakhaine settlers for collecting water. The Rakhaines had
landed on Kuakata after being (d) ---- (use participle) from Arakan by the Mughals. Kuakata is one of
the (e) ----- (pre-modify the noun) spots which allow a visitor (f) ---- (use an infinitive to post-modify
the noun) both the sunrise and the sunset from the beach. It is (g) ---- (use an intensifier) a virgin beach
and a sanctuary for migratory (h) ---- (use a noun- adjective) birds. Kuakata is (i) ---- (use an adverb) a
holy land for the Hindus and Buddhists. Each year thousands of devotees come here to attend the
festivals Rash Purnima and Maghi Purnima. On these (j) ---- (use a quantifier to pre-modify the noun)
days, pilgrims take holy bath and enjoy going to the traditional fairs.
5. Once a cook roasted a duck for his master. The roast looked (a) ---- (use an intensifier) delicious. He
failed to resist (b) ---- (pre-modify the noun with a possessive) temptation and ate one of its drumsticks.
When his master sat down (c) ----- (use infinitive), he quickly noticed the (d) ---- (pre-modify the noun)
leg and asked him about it. The cook replied that the duck had (e) ---- (pre-modify the noun) leg only.
The master said that there was no such thing as a one (f) ---- (pre-modify the noun) duck. He insisted
that this duck had only one leg. (g) ---- (pre-modify the verb with a present participle) angry, the master
threatened (h) ---- (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) him from his job. The cook looked out of
the window and saw some ducks (i) ---- (post-modify the noun with a present participle) outside in the
yard. He saw one duck (j) --- (post-modify the noun) on one leg folding the other one within its body.

6. Nelson Mandela (a) ---- (use an appositive to post-modify noun) guided South Africa from the
shackles of apartheid to a (b)---- (use adjective to pre-modify the noun) democracy, as (c) ---- (use
determiner as pre-modifier) icon of peace and reconciliation, who came to embody justice around the
world. Imprisoned for nearly (d) ---- (use a quantifier) decades for his fight against white supremacy
rule, Mandela (e) ---- (pre-modify the verb) lost his resolve to fight for his (f) ---- (possessive as pre-
modifier) emancipation. He was determined to bring down apartheid while avoiding a (g) ----- (use
adjective as pre-modifier) war. His prestige and charisma helped him (h) ---- (use bare infinitive) the
support of the world. “I hate (i) ---- (modify the noun) discrimination (j) ----- (use an intensifier)
intensely and in all its manifestations.” declared Mandela.
7. The world is producing millions of tons of domestic rubbish and toxic industrial waste (a)— (post-
modify the verb) and it is becoming (b)— (pre-modify the adjective) difficult to find suitable locations
to get rid of all the refuse, the disposal of (c) — (Pre-modify the noun) kinds of waste is (d) — (post-
modify the verb) polluting the environment. We know that air is an (e) — (post-modify the noun)
element of our environment. Man makes fire (f) — (post-modify the verb by an infinitive) food, make
bricks, melt tar for road construction and to do (g) — (pre-modify the noun) things which pollute the
air. Railway engines and (h) — (pre-modify the noun by a noun adjective) houses create smoke (i) —
(post-modify the verb by adverb phrase). Mills and factories also belch (j) — (pre-modify the noun by
adjective phrase) smoke.

Answers:

1. a. the king of Scotland b. his c. to regain his kingdom d. on the wall e. the f. several g. again and again h. to see i.
well j. that.
2. a. cunning/clever b. alone c. very d. to come e. strange f. quite g. carefully h. to cut off i. wise j. no.
3. a. to drive b. frequently c. lane d. traffic e. zigzag f. to overtake g. recklessly h. road i. Having no driving experience
j. safely.
4. a. the daughter of the sea b. The c. its d. expelled e. unique f. to enjoy g. really h. winter i. really j. two.
5. a. very b. his c. to eat d. missing e. only f. legged g. Becoming h. to fire i. resting j. standing.
6. a. the first black president of South Africa b. multi-racial c. an d. three e. never f. people’s g. civil h. win i. race j.
most.
7. (a) each year (b) increasingly (c) various (d) seriously (e) important (f) to cook (g) maû other (h) power (i) by
burning coal and oil (j) a lot of