英语语法教程18.Modification (1) Modifiers Function and Classification

18.3.2 Post-positioned attributives In contemporary English, some postpositioned prepositional modifiers can be changed into pre-positioned ones. This change makes the phrase terse and more convenient; however, not every prepositional modifier can be changed this way. 18.3.3 The relationship between the position and meaning of attributives

18.5.2 Three features of the modifying adverbials A) A single word, a phrase or a clause can function as a modifying adverbial. B) The position of a modifying adverbial is flexible in a sentence, and it can be used to modify a word, the part of predication or the whole sentence. C) Modifying adverbials can be grouped into ten categories, referring to time, place, manner, reason, result, degree, purpose, conditions, concession, adjoint circumstances.
18.4.2 Word orders of the pre-positioned modifiers A) The usual order of pre-positioned modifier: in a noun phrase can be roughly described as follows: Determiner(s) (1) general descriptive modifiers (2) modifiers denoting long, short; high, low; big, small, etc. (3) modifiers denoting shapes (4) modifiers denoting age, new, old, etc. (5) modifiers denoting nation, area, origin, etc. (6) modifiers denoting uses, categories, etc. noun head post modifier(s)
Modification (1) Modifiers: Function and Classification
18.1 Function
Modifiers are used to make the meaning complete and specific.
18.2 Classification of modifiers

18.2.1 Classified from components A) Single-word or group modifiers B) Clause modifiers
18.2.2 Classified from positions A) Pre-positioned modifiers B) Post positioned modifiers 18.2.3 Classified from functions A) Attributives, used mainly to modify nouns (noun phrases) B) Adverbials, used mainly to modify verbs (verb phrases), adjectives, adverbs, etc.

18.3 Pre-positioned attributives and post-positioned attributives

18.3.1 Pre-positioned attributives A) An attributive of this type is usually placed between the determiner and the noun head. B) Pre-positioned attributives are usually formed by single words or comparatively shorter words or phrases.
18.5 Three types of adverbials
18.5.1 Classification of adverbials A) Classified according to their meaning and function: (1) Adjunct, used for description (2) Disjunct, used for commentary (3) Conjunct, used for conjunction B) Of the three classes of adverbials, the first (adjuncts) is integrated within the clause but the other two are not.
B) The restrictive is semantically connected with the noun head and closely prepositioned with it, whereas the nonrestrictive isn’t, and the different position of the modifiers can cause much difference in meaning.

B) When several modifiers are needed before a noun head, it is necessary to place them according to the above order, and in the meantime, we should, wherever possible, use one or two as post-modifiers so as to achieve variety.

18.4 Restric来自百度文库ive and non-restrictive modifiers

18.4.1 The difference between the two modifiers in meaning A) Although both modifiers are used to modify the noun head, the restrictive refers to its basic feature(s) and so the modifier is compulsory while the non-restrictive offers some more information which can be deleted without affecting the essential meaning of the whole noun phrase.
B) The conjuncts are not used for modification, either. They play the role of conjunctions, and differ in that conjunctions are positioned between two elements, whereas conjuncts can be placed in a more flexible way and they can also be used together with other conjunctions.
18.6 The ten classes of adverbials
18.7 The disjuncts and conjuncts
A) The disjuncts are used not to modify anything but to express the speaker’s comment on the sentence, and are usually separated from the other part of the sentence by commas. The comment refers to the speaker’s views on the content of the whole sentence, e.g. “generally (speaking),” “ironically (enough),” etc.