A modifier is an adjective, adverb, or group of words that describes or limits the meaning of one or more other words in a sentence. The word “modify” means “to change.” When used correctly, modifiers make writing more precise.
For example, by itself, the noun “shirt” isn’t very precise. However, when you add one or more modifiers, like in the examples below, “shirt” can have a variety of slightly different meanings. As the examples illustrate, a word or group of words can have more than one modifier in the same sentence.
Modifiers in sentences examplesErika made Cathy a blue and purple tie-dyed shirt.
The green button-down shirt in the laundry basket needs to be ironed.
My favorite flannel shirt, which belonged to my grandfather, has a hole in the front pocket.
Published on
January 29, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
July 14, 2025
Ordinal numbers—such as “second” and “95th”—provide helpful details about sequences and rankings. You can write ordinal numbers as words or numerals combined with “-st,” “-nd,” “-rd,” or “-th” (e.g., “17th”). Some style guidelines recommend words for “first” through “ninth” and numerals for “10th” and higher.
In a sentence, an ordinal number can play these roles:
A determiner that shows the position of a noun in a numbered sequence (“the fifth season of Stranger Things” or “the 90th percentile”)
An adverb that modifies a verb to show the order of events (e.g., “eat first and then watch TV”)
An adverb that modifies an adjective to show a noun’s ranking (e.g., “the second tallest building”)
When an ordinal number is a determiner, it goes after another determiner (e.g., the definite article “the” or the possessive adjective “your”).
Ordinal numbers examplesWe spent the thirdday of vacation snorkeling in Akumal.
Firstwrite your outline, and then start the first draft.
The thirdlongest river in the world is the Yangtze River.
Qualifiers are a type of adverb that amplifies or weakens the meaning of other words in a sentence (e.g., “barely noticeable”). A qualifier provides information about the intensity, frequency, or likelihood of an action or description. Some of the most common qualifiers include “very,” “really,” and “almost.”
In sentences, qualifiers usually go right before the adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs that they modify.
Qualifiers in sentences examplesThe temperature is slightlycolder today than yesterday.
I mostlyrelaxed all weekend except for mowing the lawn on Sunday.
Published on
January 27, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
February 13, 2025
A cardinal number is a whole number (e.g., “three”) rather than a fraction (e.g., “one third”) or an ordinal number (e.g., “third”). In writing, cardinal numbers are determiners that show the quantities of nouns (e.g., “three cups of coffee”).
Cardinal numbers can go right before the nouns they modify or before other modifiers (e.g., adverbs and adjectives). When a noun has multiple determiners—such as the definite article “the” or the possessive adjective “my”—they always go before a cardinal number.
Depending on the style guidelines you’re using, you can write cardinal numbers as words (e.g., “seven”) or numerals (e.g., “11”). Some style guides recommend words for the cardinal numbers one through nine and numerals for 10 and greater.
Cardinal number examplesThe university awarded full scholarships to 15students.
Mythreeblackcats all have different personalities.
The manager hired fourhighlyqualified software engineers.
Published on
January 18, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
March 18, 2025
The definite article “the” is a determiner that goes before a specific rather than a general version of a noun. The noun can be singular (e.g., “the house”) or plural (e.g., “the cars”). Definite articles can also modify countable nouns (e.g., “the song”) or uncountable nouns (e.g., “the music”).
The rules about when to use definite articles depend on two factors.
Singular, countable nouns always need a determiner:
The definite article “the” or another determiner (e.g., “Paul’s” or “that”) for a specific version (e.g., “I enjoyed the first song on Ringo’s new album”)
An indefinite article—“a” or “an”—for a general version (e.g., “I hope he releases a new album again soon”)
For plural nouns and uncountable nouns (nouns without a plural form), you have these options:
The definite article “the” or another determiner for specific versions (e.g., “The salt I bought today is from Portugal”)
Zero determiner for general versions (e.g., “I’m craving salt” or “Pretzels make me thirsty”)
In a sentence, “the” is located before the noun it modifies (if there are no other modifiers), the noun’s first adjective, or an adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.
Definite article examplesJames is the title of Percival Everett’s latest novel.
Louise served thehot artichoke dip on New Year’s Eve.
Theextremelyrare spider that the scientists discovered is harmless.
To use “the” correctly, follow the definite article guidelines below, or use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker.
Published on
January 16, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
March 18, 2025
An indefinite article is a type of determiner that goes before a singular, countable noun. The two indefinite articles in English are “a” and “an.” Indefinite articles are for general or unspecified versions of nouns, and the definite article (or another determiner) is for specific versions (e.g., “a book” rather than “the book that I read last week”).
You can use an indefinite article before one of these words:
The noun it modifies (if there are no other modifiers)
The adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective
When a noun has multiple modifiers, the article or other determiner is always the first modifier.
The choice between “a” or “an” depends on the pronunciation of the next word. Use “a” when the next word begins with a vowel sound and “an” when the next word begins with a consonant sound.
Indefinite article examplesThe neighbor needs to borrow anegg for arecipe.
Jeff wrote abeautifulsong about amountain.
Fatima had anespeciallyproductivemorning at work today.
Published on
December 3, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
April 11, 2025
We use is with singular nouns and “he,” “she,” and “it” (third-person pronouns) but are with plural nouns as well as “you” and “they.” However, deciding what is singular or plural, or which pronoun to use, can sometimes be tricky.
Published on
October 22, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
January 28, 2025
Sentences can be in the active voice (e.g., “He made the breakfast”) or the passive voice (e.g., “The breakfast was made by him”).
In the active voice, the grammatical subject of the sentence is the “doer” of the action described by the verb (“He made…”), but in the passive voice, the subject is the “recipient” of this action (“The breakfast was made…”).
Active voice examples in a sentenceMy friendcuts my hair.
The mail carrierdelivered the letter at about 10 a.m.
Published on
October 11, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
August 20, 2025
Sentences can be in the passive voice (e.g., “The window was cleaned”) or the active voice (e.g., “He cleaned the window”). In the active voice, the “doer” of the action described by the verb is the grammatical subject of the sentence (“He cleaned…”), but in the passive voice, the subject is the “recipient” of this action (“The window was cleaned…”).
Choosing the passive voice allows us to make the sentence or clause “about” the recipient rather than the doer (or “agent”).
You construct the passive by using a form of the auxiliary verbbe (e.g., “was”) and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “cleaned”). If you want to mention the agent in the passive voice, it comes after the prepositionby (e.g., “…was cleaned by him”).
Passive voice examples in a sentenceAll the ingredients are cooled before mixing.
These ones are madeby a different company.
It isscheduled for release next week.
They said the delivery had already beenmade.
When were these windows last cleaned?
The event is going to beheld in New York, but the date has yet to be announced.
The movie hasbeenslammed on social media.
TipOveruse of passive voice can make text sound stilted and unnatural. So, replacing passive voice with active voice is one way to humanize AI text.
