ABSTRACT

Modifiers refer to words or phrases that are used to modify (i.e. elaborate, describe, clarify, identify, delimit) a noun or noun-like phrase. In English, modifiers typically include the use of adjectives before the noun (pink sweater, pretty girl) or relative clauses that follow the noun (the sweater that I wore yesterday, the girl who bought me lunch). In Korean since adjectives also operate as verbs (‘descriptive verbs’), the process of forming modifiers follows just one pattern. Verbs, both descriptive and processive, are placed before the noun and are put into a special modifier form.