Name: ______

Period: ______

Hyphenated Modifiers

Instructions for making a knock-your-socks-off hyphenated modifier:

1.  Find an adjective you would like to replace, or a noun that needs an adjective.

a.  Example: My mom asked me to go clean my room, and she had that mean look in her eyes.

2.  Think of a phrase that describes the noun, or something that the noun is telling you.

a.  Example: for “look,” think of what that look is saying: The look my mother gave me told me that if I don’t clean my room now, I may never see the light of day again.

3.  Add that phrase in as the adjective. To make one word, put hyphens between each of the words in the modifier.

a.  Example: My mom asked me to go clean my room and had that do-it-now-or-you-will-never-see-the-light-of-day-again look in her eyes.

4.  Make sure you don’t put a hyphen between the last word of the “adjective” and the noun.

Now let’s practice writing some make-my-mouth-water hyphenated modifiers!

Part 1: Adding a Modifier

Rewrite the following sentences by adding a hyphenated modifier for one of the bolded nouns. (You can change the sentences a little bit if it fits you modifier better.) Circle the noun that’s being modified.

1.  The sporty car zoomed around the corner.

______

______

2.  The old man sat staring at the ground with a blank expression on his face.

______

______

3.  He stuck his tongue at the substitute teacher.

______

______

4.  The most popular girl in school threw me one of her looks.

______

______

5.  The little dog had a bark.

______

______

6.  Her fingernails were the first thing I could see from the window.

______

______

7.  He put his feet into the shoes.

______

______

8.  The chickens finally laid 20 eggs.

______

______

9.  The castle was what we had waited to see all day long.

______

______

10.  The bear roared as it claimed the kill from the wolves.

______

______

Part 2: Find Examples

Look through some novels and find at least three hyphenated modifiers. Remember, not every dash makes a hyphenated modifier. Makes sure it is describing something. Write down the sentence, book title, and page number. Circle the HM.

1.  ______

______

2.  ______

______

3.  ______

______

Part 3: On Your Own

Use the following prompt to write two more sentences: Describe a Halloween costume you have worn or have seen on someone else. First, tell me what the costume was: ______Use a hyphenated modifier in each sentence.

4.  ______

______

5.  ______

______