Modifiers, as their name implies, are words that modify. Specifically, they’re words that modify their sentences’ meanings. How do you specify what somebody looks like? With modifiers. How do you describe how an action is being performed? With a

After reading the book, I thought the movie was great. 

Before leaving, I watched a squirrel cross the sidewalk. 

Dangling modifiers aren’t the only type of misplaced modifier. Another type is known as a squinting modifier. This kind of modifier is unclear because it’s placed in a way that makes it just as applicable to the word before it as it is to the word following it. Take a look at these examples: 

• 
  The kids who played at the playground sometimes bought ice cream.
  
• 
  Emi hoped when class was over she could check her phone. 
  

With these sentences, moving the modifier around fixes any clarity challenges:

• 
  Sometimes, the kids who played at the playground bought ice cream.
  
• 
  The kids who sometimes played at the playground bought ice cream.
  

• 
  When class was over, Emi hoped she could check her phone.
  
• 
  Emi hoped she could check her phone when class was over. 
  

What are the different kinds of modifiers?

As we mentioned above, modifiers can be single words, phrases, or clauses. For a quick refresher on how to fit these components together to build sentences, read our post on sentence structure. 
An adjective phrase can act as a modifier. Adjective phrases are phrases that function as adjectives, which means they describe nouns. You might hear or read that adjective phrases describe adjectives, and this is true in a pedantic sense—an adjective phrase does replace a single adjective by describing what that single adjective would communicate. But the purpose of an adjective is to describe a noun, and an adjective phrase ultimately describes a noun by providing a more vivid description than a single adjective can. 
With that out of the way, take a look at these examples of adjective phrases working as modifiers:

• 
  The building that was taller than the others was prone to power outages. 
  
• 
  Our generally aloof cat surprised us by accepting the new kitten. 
  

Adjective clauses can work as modifiers too. Here are a few examples:

• 
  Kiara, a student who had recently transferred, asked about the school’s testing schedule. 
  
• 
  The service that catered our parties just increased their prices. 
  

And of course, single adjectives can be used as modifiers too:

• 
  I want to go to the retro arcade for my birthday.
  
• 
  They saw a yellow bird in the garden.