====== Modifier phrases ======
**//Modifier//** is an //optional// element in sentence which modifies another element of sentence (usually object or subject) and can be removed without affecting the meaning of the sentence. Typical modifiers are adjectival phrases and determiner words. Modifier phrase usually answers the question "which?". [[syntax_adverbials|Adverbial phrases]] also belong to this category, but they modify either verbs or other modifiers.

The phrase is //adjectival// when it is functioning as [[grammar_adjective|adjective]], describing [[syntax_subject|subject]] or [[syntax_object|object]] (//attributive//) or is part of [[syntax_predicate|predicate]] (//predicative//, usually after verb "to be", describing together the subject). 

**//Determiner//** is the word, phrase or affix that occurs together with noun or noun phrase and is used as it's attribute and reference in the context. Determiner words without noun are individual members of sentence (subject or object).

**//Attributive//** is a word or phrase within noun phrase that //modifies// that noun. They are usually adjectives, other nouns, numerals and non-finite forms of verbs.

Adjectival phrase may be expressed by an adjective, dependent clause or one of determiner words:
  * [[grammar_adjective|Adjective]]: "<wrap wavy_underline>brave</wrap> orc" => "<wrap wavy_underline>for</wrap> uruk" = "uruk**for**";
  * Adjective modified by [[grammar_adverb|adverb]]: "<wrap wavy_underline>very strong</wrap> orc" => "<wrap wavy_underline>sharz bolg</wrap> uruk";
  * Attributive [[grammar_noun|noun]], usually becoming a compound word (like "**bûb**hosh" = "**pig** guts");
  * Noun or phrase with noun in [[case_essive|essive case]]: "<wrap wavy_underline>monster-like</wrap> face" => "thak <wrap wavy_underline>uglauk**si**</wrap>";
  * Noun or phrase with noun in [[case_comitative|comitative case]]: "orc <wrap wavy_underline>with knife</wrap>" => "uruk <wrap wavy_underline>kirm**sha**</wrap>";
  * [[syntax_possession|Possessive phrase]] (noun or pronoun) expressed by [[case_genitive|genitive case]]: "<wrap wavy_underline>master's</wrap> ring" => "nazg <wrap wavy_underline>mâgz**ob**</wrap>";
  * [[grammar_participle|Participle]]: "the <wrap wavy_underline>crying</wrap> orc" => "<wrap wavy_underline>blord**ug**</wrap> uruk";
  * [[grammar_gerundive|Gerundive]]: "boots <wrap wavy_underline>for walking</wrap>" => "shkab <wrap wavy_underline>ukh**at**</wrap>" = "boots <wrap wavy_underline>to walk</wrap>";
  * One of determiner words (see [[proform|pro-forms]]):
    * Demonstrative: "<wrap wavy_underline>this</wrap> person" => "<wrap wavy_underline>za</wrap> shra";
    * Quantifier: "<wrap wavy_underline>some</wrap> beer" => "<wrap wavy_underline>mûd</wrap> hîmb";
    * [[grammar_numerals|Numeral]]: "<wrap wavy_underline>three</wrap> ravens" => "<wrap wavy_underline>krig</wrap> krag";
    * Some interrogative and relative pronouns: "<wrap wavy_underline>How many</wrap> stars are there in the sky?" => "<wrap wavy_underline>Mamak</wrap> ilz kulû nûtir";
  * Expression of measure: "Twenty thousand leagues under the sea" => "Krulnuk mink laur lata kârsh";
  * Dependent clause: "I dwell in the house <wrap wavy_underline>that Gazmog built</wrap>" => "Dafulg ozdor <wrap wavy_underline>(z)amash Gazmog tumbuzâ</wrap>";

----------------------
===== Word Order =====
The rules below are quite loose and have recommendatory character only.

==== Clitic determiners ====
Attributives expressed by short adjective, possessive pronoun, demonstrative "za" (this) are often joined to the end of the noun which they modify (e.g. "shar**kû**" = "**old** man"). Attributive nouns by contrast are placed before the noun they describe ("**bûb**hosh" = "**pig** guts"). Stand-alone long adjectives, that are not joined to the noun, are usually placed before described words. But this rule is not strict, and in [[archaic_style|archaic]] or poetic speech stand-alone adjectives may be placed after described word as in Quenya.

==== Stand-alone determiners ====
The following adjectival phrases are placed **before** described word:
  * Numerals
  * Stand-alone adjectives
  * Participles (single-word)
  * Demonstrative pronoun "zîg" (that)
  * Quantifiers

and these types are placed **after** described word:
  * Stand-alone adjectives and participles in archaic speech
  * Phrases with nouns/numerals/pronouns/pro-forms in cases other than Nominative and Accusative
  * Distributive
  * Relative or interrogative pronouns with dependent words
  * Participles with dependent words
  * Dependent clauses

-----------------
===== Links =====
  * [[wp>Determiner|Determiners]]
  * [[wp>Grammatical_modifier|Modifiers]]