Modification and Subordination The easiest and most common way of developing the S V/C pattern is by adding a modifier . To modify means to change or alter. A modifier, therefore, is a word or word group that changes the meaning of another word or word group that is more basic to the sentence. S V/C Luis eats/apples. By adding a modifier to the complement, we can alter the meaning of "apples." S V/C Luis eats/green apples. We can also modify the subject. S V/C Little Luis eats/green apples. And even the verb. S V/C Little Luis never eats/green apples. Notice how the basic S V/C pattern remains even after several modifiers have been added. This is because modifiers cluster around base elements like iron filings around a magnet. The principle that describes this relationship between modifiers and more basic sentence elements is subordination . Subordination means taking a position of lesser importance or rank. In the Army, for example, a private is subo...
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