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# modify

«modify» in Mova's school dictionary: **to change it a little, usually to improve it or make it…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

verb (modify, modifies, modified, modifying); noun modification

### meaning for a pupil

1) To modify something means to change it a little, usually to improve it or make it fit a purpose. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#m1)

2) (grammar) A word modifies another when it describes it or changes its meaning, like an adjective modifying a noun. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#m2)

3) (science) Genetically modified (GM) plants have had their genes changed by scientists. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In design and technology, pupils modify their designs after testing; in grammar lessons adjectives and adverbs modify; in science GM crops are discussed. Phrases: «modify a design», «modified version», «genetically modified».

### examples

- We modified our paper plane so it flew further. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x1)
- Dad modified the recipe to use less sugar. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x2)
- The game has been modified for younger players. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x3)
- In «a red car», «red» modifies «car». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x4)
- Scientists modify plants to resist pests. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x5)
- Can you modify your sentence to make it clearer? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x6)
- The bike was modified with a basket. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x7)
- After testing, modify your model and test again. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x8)
- But I have felt myself more at liberty than the translators themselves, who have generally been over-literal, in changing, excising, or modifying the original. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/#x9)

### note

Modify changes y to i: modifies, modified. Means about the same as «change» or «adjust» but sounds more formal. Modifying is changing a little, not completely.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «modify» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modify/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.