In grammar, a modifier is a word or phrase that modifies, or changes, another word or phrase in the sentence. Adjectives and adverbs are modifiers. Adjectives modify nouns, and adverbs modify adjectives, verbs and other adverbs. Phrases that act as adjectives and adverbs are also modifiers. Usually a modifier modifies a word or phrase right next to it. For example, in the sentence, “I poured myself a glass of cold water,” “cold” is an adjective that modifies “water.” What about the sentence, “Nana makes lemonade with extra lemon juice”? “With extra lemon juice” is a phrase that acts like an adjective, modifying “lemonade.”

Which word is the modifier in the sentence below?

I slowly ate the pizza; it took me 20 minutes to finish a slice!

A
slowly

B
pizza

C
minutes

D
finish

A

slowly