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Angliholic Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
qualify/modify
I feel I must qualify my earlier remarks in case they are misinterpreted.
In "the open door," open is an adjective qualifying door.
Could I use modify and modifying to replace qualify and qualifying in the above contexts without making a change in meaning?
Thanks.
In "the open door," open is an adjective qualifying door.
Could I use modify and modifying to replace qualify and qualifying in the above contexts without making a change in meaning?
Thanks.
Top answer
You can use 'modifying' in the sencond sentence and keep the same meaning. You cannot use 'modify' in the first sentence as here it would mean 'change'.
- You can use 'modifying' in the sencond sentence and keep the same meaning.
- You cannot use 'modify' in the first sentence as here it would mean 'change'.
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6 Answers
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You can use 'modifying' in the sencond sentence and keep the same meaning.
You cannot use 'modify' in the first sentence as here it would mean 'change'.
You cannot use 'modify' in the first sentence as here it would mean 'change'.
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Nona The BritYou can use 'modifying' in the sencond sentence and keep the same meaning.Thanks, Nona, for your interest in my thread.
You cannot use 'modify' in the first sentence as here it would mean 'change'.
What about the following samples?
The Union has been forced to modify its
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Yes, they do.
This is not relevant to your first sentence, where change is NOT the meaning wanted.
Qualify doesn't really equal 'change'. It's just that in grammar we talk of a word qualifying or modifying another word.
Modify = to change something
Qualify = to further explain something.
You can see how an adverb, for example, both slightly changes a v
This is not relevant to your first sentence, where change is NOT the meaning wanted.
Qualify doesn't really equal 'change'. It's just that in grammar we talk of a word qualifying or modifying another word.
Modify = to change something
Qualify = to further explain something.
You can see how an adverb, for example, both slightly changes a v
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Oh so wrong. When you qualify your remark you are PRECISELY changing your remark. I'd agree that some meaning is lost, as MODIFY is more vague and doesn't convey the change will yield a more detailed remark which should yield a more precise remark. BUT modify is a synonym for qualify in every dictionary.
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Adjectives modify nouns.
Adverbs qualify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Both 'modify' and 'qualify' in this context mean 'describe' or 'extend the meaning of', not 'change'. It's simply a convention to use 'modify' in one case and 'qualify' in the other.
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