1. Modifiers that come before the word they modify. (adjectives and adverbs)

Subject	Verb	Modifier (adj.)	Simple Complement
He	is writing	a new	book.
The teacher	explained	the difficult	lesson.
The instructor	taught	the first	lesson.
She	wrote	a long	letter.
He	is	a good	pilot.
They	are	wonderful	people.
I	like	good	reading.
The instructor	taught	basic	flying.

Subject	Verb	Modifier (adv.)	Simple Complement
He	is	very	happy.
The soup	tastes	rather	good.
Yesterday	was	quite	hot.

2. Modifiers that come after the word they modify. (phrases)

 

		Complement
Subject	Verb	Simple complement	Phrase modifier
We	know	a place	with a swimming pool.
I	prefer	a car	with four doors.
She	ordered	a table	with a back top.
He	is	happy	about the party
John	was	tired	from hard work.
The family	seems	happy	with the house.
He	is	a man	of great courage.
Jack	became	an actor	of great talent.
The airplane	is	a thing	of great importance.

3. Modifiers that come after the word they modify. (clauses)

		Complement
Subject	Verb	Simple complement	Clause modifier
He	uses	the car	that belong to his father.
They	are studying	the book	that Mr. Smith wrote.
She	bought	a picture	which my friend painted.
She	is	the girl	that I met last night.
This	is	the book	which I told you about.
They	are	the officers	who are in my class.

4. Notice that modifiers frequently precede and follow the simple complement.

 

		Complement
Subject	Verb	Modifier	Simple complement	Modifier
We	know	a nice	place	near the city.
I	prefer	a new	car	with two doors.
This	is	the first	book	that we studied.