modification

/ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɑːdɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmä-də-fə-ˈkā-shən/ (ame, mw)

modification — noun

  • modificationsingular
  • modificationsplural

1. a small but noticeable change made to something, often to improve how it works o

1.名詞B1
釋義

a small but noticeable change made to something, often to improve how it works or to make it better suit a purpose

例句

The engineer made a small modification to the engine to make it run more quietly.

pattern: make a modification to [something]

Several modifications to the original plan allowed the project to move forward on time.

同義詞
  • adjustment

    a very small change, often to settings or position

  • alteration

    a change in appearance or structure, often more noticeable than a modification

  • revision

    a change to written or planned material

  • amendment

    a formal change, especially to a document or law

反義詞
  • preservation

    keeping something in its original state without change

文法句型

make + modification(s) + to + noun phrase

undergo + modification

用法筆記

Can be both countable (a modification, several modifications) and uncountable (modification of something). The preposition 'to' is most common when specifying what was changed: make a modification to the design.

常見錯誤

We need a complete modification of the company structure.
We need a complete change of the company structure.
💡Modification suggests small adjustments within an existing framework, not a full overhaul.
The modification of the car took two hours.' (vague about what changed).
The modification to the car's exhaust system took two hours.
💡Use 'to' to specify which part was changed.

2. in grammar, the relationship in which one word gives more information about anot

2.名詞C1
釋義

in grammar, the relationship in which one word gives more information about another word, such as an adjective describing a noun or an adverb describing a verb

例句

In English, adding '-ly' to 'quick' is a common type of modification that creates an adverb.

grammar concept: suffix creates modifier

The teacher showed how modification works when an adjective gives more detail about a noun.

同義詞
  • qualification

    a more formal term for limiting or specifying a word's meaning

  • description

    broader and less technical than modification

文法句型

modification + of + noun + by + modifier

用法筆記

This is a technical grammar term, distinct from sense 1. It is restricted to describing relationships between words in a sentence — not any kind of change to language. Typically used with the preposition 'of' and 'by': modification of a noun by an adjective.

常見錯誤

Changing a verb from past to present tense is a modification.
Using an adjective to describe a noun is an example of modification.
💡Modification in grammar means one word giving extra information about another, not any change in form.