Special Agent Entrance Practice Exam

In the phrase "tired from late nights," which word serves as a modifier?

1. Tired

2. From

3. Late

4. Nights

The correct answer is: Tired

In the phrase "tired from late nights," the word "tired" serves as the main descriptor of a state or condition. Modifiers are words that provide additional information about other words, and in this case, "tired" describes the subject’s emotional or physical condition as a result of the actions implied in the phrase. While "late" could be seen as a modifier in its own right, modifying "nights" to specify what kind of nights are being referred to, the primary focus on the request for the word that serves as a modifier points to "tired," as it is the term that conveys the resultant condition stemming from the late nights mentioned. "From" functions as a preposition, which doesn't modify but rather links the state of being tired to its cause, and "nights" acts as a noun that is part of the phrase indicating what type of influence has led to the feeling of tiredness. Therefore, the choice of "tired" accurately identifies the word that encapsulates the overall meaning of being affected by late nights.