What is modifier subject?

[Smita]

Dear Torsten,

Hi again! I want to know that what is modifier subject? I have read in book that " we should aviod using a verb that agrees with the modifiers of a subject instead of with the subject itself " Example: His knowledge of languages and international relations aids him in his work. please exaplain in detail.

Thanks
Smita

[Alan]

Modifiers in relation to nouns are divided into two types: premodifiers and postmodifiers. All that means is that the pre ones add extra information (for example adjectives) before the noun or subject and the post ones add this extra information after the noun or subject. Let me give you an example:

The traditional solid politician from a family of enthusiastic and public spirited relatives knows exactly how to present a good argument.

The subject noun POLITICIAN has traditional solid as the premodifier and from a family of public spirited relatives as the post modifier.

In cases like these the point to remember is that the subject POLITICIAN is still a singular one and therefore needs a singular verb although the subject has modifiers attached to it both before and after it.
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