Modifiers
The purpose of modifiers is to connect a description with a nearby or identified noun in order to avoid confusion.
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Common Core standard L.7.1.c
Modifiers: What they are
Modifiers are any word or phrase that further describes or clarifies another word. In the context of this concept, usually it refers to an adjective phrase.
Examples
Bring me the note cards under the desk. <- Under the desk tells the listener or reader which note cards to bring – not the ones on the shelf or in the closet, but the ones under the desk.
The bag, which had sat outside in the rain all night, fell apart when I picked it up. <- Which had sat outside all night provides more detail about the bag, telling the listener/reader why the bag is falling apart.
Why they matter
Modifiers are important for giving the listener/reader more information about a concept. Sometimes they provide an implied reason for the rest of the sentence to exist. Other times they narrow down which one of several items is being discussed. Either way, they make writing more descriptive – when they’re used correctly.