essential modifier
[ɪˈsenʃəl ˈmɒdɪfaɪər]
nounpl: essential modifiers
modificador essencial
1. A grammatical element (adjective, adverb, or phrase) that is necessary to the meaning of a sentence and cannot be removed without changing or obscuring the intended meaning; also called a restrictive modifier.
In the sentence 'The students who studied hard passed the exam,' the clause 'who studied hard' is an essential modifier that specifies which students passed.
Na frase 'Os alunos que estudaram muito passaram na prova', a oração 'que estudaram muito' é um modificador essencial que especifica quais alunos passaram.
2. In grammar, a dependent clause or phrase that provides information necessary to identify or restrict the noun it modifies.
The book that won the prize is on the shelf. The phrase 'that won the prize' is essential because without it, we wouldn't know which book is being referenced.
O livro que ganhou o prêmio está na prateleira. A frase 'que ganhou o prêmio' é essencial porque sem ela não saberíamos qual livro está sendo referenciado.
This is primarily academic and grammatical terminology used in English and Portuguese language education. It is standard in both American and Brazilian Portuguese grammar instruction, though the term 'restrictive modifier' is more commonly used in contemporary American English grammar texts. In Portuguese-speaking countries, 'modificador essencial' or 'oração restritiva' are the standard terms taught in schools.
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