In grammar, a modifier is a word or group of words that adds extra information about another word.

In grammar在文法裡, a modifiermodifier(修飾語) is a word or group of words是一個字或一組字, that adds extra information about another word用來替另一個字增加額外的資訊。

An adjective can be a modifier: fierce in the fierce dog tells you what kind of dog. An adverb can be one: loudly in the dog barked loudly tells you how. A phrase can be one too: with a short tail in the dog with a short tail.

An adjective形容詞 can be a modifier可以是一個modifier: fierce'fierce'(兇猛的) in the fierce dog在'the fierce dog'(那隻兇猛的狗)裡面 tells you what kind of dog告訴你是哪種狗。An adverb副詞 can be one也可以是: loudly'loudly'(大聲地) in the dog barked loudly在'the dog barked loudly'(那隻狗大聲地叫)裡面 tells you how告訴你「怎麼」叫的。A phrase片語 can be one too也可以是: with a short tail'with a short tail'(有著短尾巴) in the dog with a short tail在'the dog with a short tail'(有短尾巴的那隻狗)裡面。

The word being painted is the main word; the modifier hangs on it.

The word being painted被描述的那個字 is the main word是主要的字; the modifier而modifier hangs on it則附掛在它上面。

Though actually, real sentences often stack modifiers (the small fierce dog with a short tail). English likes the modifier to sit near the word it belongs to.

Though actually不過其實, real sentences often stack modifiers真正的句子常常會疊好幾個modifier (the small fierce dog with a short tail像'the small fierce dog with a short tail'(那隻矮小、兇猛、短尾巴的狗)這樣)。English likes the modifier to sit near the word it belongs to英文喜歡讓modifier待在它所修飾的那個字附近。

If it sits too far away, readers may attach it to the wrong thing — that is the old school warning about a “misplaced modifier.” This entry is the grammar word, not every other job the letters can do.

If it sits too far away如果它離得太遠, readers may attach it to the wrong thing讀者可能會把它接到錯的東西上 — that is the old school warning about a 'misplaced modifier'這就是課本常說的'misplaced modifier'(誤置修飾語)警告。This entry這個詞條講的 is the grammar word是文法上的這個字, not every other job the letters can do不是這些字母能做的其他所有事。