EXAMPLES OF MODIFICATION
The modifier-head relation
The main difference when we speak of heads and modifiers, is that the head is
an obligatory element of a sentence, while a modifier is optional. In the example
„rather dubious jokes“, a modifier-head relation has a higher structure between
the „rather dubious“ and „jokes“. As a whole, „rather dubious“ is an optional
element, a DEPENDENT MODIFIER due to the fact that it simply cannot
„stand“ on its own, while „jokes“,as a head, is obligatory. Not only words, but
phrases also, can function as heads as well as modifiers. This dependency is
strictly one-way; modifiers depend on the heads of the sentence. While some
precede, other modifiers follow the heads which they modify.
The modifier-head relation in nouns and Noun Phrases
When speaking of categories, it is the category of the head that determines the
category of the phrase as a whole. Consequently, the head noun in an NP
determines the gender and the number of the complete phrase, including the
before mentioned modifier. While there may be multiple nouns in one Noun
Phrase, only one is considered the head. The constituents(modifiers) that modify
the head can be omitted without any larger changes to the original NP. For
example:
Their extremely subtle tactics confuse me
Their tactics confuse me.
Tactics confuse me.
The modification- adjectives relation
Many adjectives have the possibility of a comparative and a superlative form,
for example lazy-lazier-the laziest. Other, irregular ones are modified with
degree adverbs more and most, or less and least, in order to give them a
morphological form of a comparative or a superlative. Adjectives that accept the
-er/-est inflection or modification by degree adverbs are called gradable
adjectives. Non-gradable adjectives do not accept the -er/-est modification by
degree adverb. Some examples of non-gradable adjectives are: dead, atomic,
right, medical, fatal, final, etc.
Modification in Adjective and Adverb Phrases
Adjective Phrases are centered on adjectives, and can consist only of an
unmodified head, a basic simple adjective, for example: rather dubious or too
modest. When it comes to modification within an AP, for example in the phrase
Aldo’s quite delicious pizzas, the AP is quite delicious, and it functions as the
modifier of pizzas. Delicious is the adjective functioning as the head of the AP.
On the other hand, in Luigi’s inedible pizzas, the simple adjective functions both
as the head and as the complete modifier of pizzas, so it counts as a full
Adjective Phrase as well as an adjective.
Some examples of general adverbs: frankly, potentionally,oddly,
enthusiastically, etc.
General adverbs can be modify adjectives within Adjective phrases, for example
oddly inconclusive. However, general adverbs can themselves be modified by
degree adverbs, to form adverb phrases. For example, very oddly, quite frankly.
Since modification of a general adverb by a degree adverb is optional, an
Adverb Phrase can consist of just a general adverb.
Pre-modifiers in NOM
The most obvious pre-modifiers of the noun within NOM are Adjective phrases.
An adjective is always dominated by Adjective Phrase. The function of the
adjective is head-of-Adjective Phrase. It is the Adjective Phrase that has the
function of a modifier.
Nouns
Nouns themselves may act as pre-modifiers of nouns. Examples: chess piece,
traffic light, roof maintenance,carbon trader, computer game. .The relation
between a head noun and a pre-modifying noun is much closer than that
between the head noun and any other pre-modifier. In a sequence of modifiers
that includes a noun modifier, noun modifiers always appear last. They cannot
be separated from the head noun:
some expensive roof maintenance
*some roof expensive maintenance
Post-modifiers; Prepositional Phrases and Adjective Phrases
If we use the Noun Phrase an expedition to the pub as an example, the head N is
expedition and it is modified by the PP to the pub, which consists of P + NP. In
this case, we have a postmodifying sister to the noun, within NOM.
In the example expedition for more cherry brandy modifies a constituent that has
expedition as its head – it’s an expedition for more cherry brandy. Now,
expedition to the pub is a NOM. And expedition to the pub for more cherry
brandy is a NOM as well. So we have a NOM within a NOM .
What happens when NOM includes both a pre-modifying AP and a post-
modifying PP. There must be as many NOMs as there are modifiers. So, with a
pre-modifier and a post-modifier, there will be two NOMs.
A few can pre-modify or post-modify the head noun in NOM:
the responsible men
the men responsible
the present members
the members present
As post-modifiers, APs occupy the same position in the structure of NOM as
post-modifying PPs. A difference in meaning is associated with this difference
of position of the AP.
When, in an NP, a modifying AP includes a complement, it always postmodifies
the head noun:
the chef responsible for the sauces
a stuntman happy in his job
*the responsible for the sauces chef
*a happy in his job stuntman
Within NOM, the head of a modifying phrase wants to be as close as possible to
the head noun.
Modification of pronouns
Examples of pronouns combined with an AP within an NP:
something outrageous
anyone intelligent
someone in the crowd
no-one/none from the bank
Indefinite pronouns can only be POST-MODIFIED due to simple history.
Modifier in NP
There is not much to be said about modifiers in Nps except for that clausal
modifiers in NPs are relative clauses with a covert wh-phrase. They are
restrictive only and thus modifiers of NOM in NP.
CONCLUSION
While modification is a one-way dependency, and complementation is
a two-way dependency between two sister nodes, both of the nodes
are dominated by the mother node. Both complementation and
modification are complex themes regarding syntax and morphology,
but nevertheless very important in order for one to understand the
structure and dependency of more or less complex phrases. There is a
heavy amount of examples that can be given for both of these themes,
as they are almost endless sources of information regarding syntactic
dependency.
