"pointer to int" is a type, because 'pointer to' is not a type qualifier like 'const'. You can call it a modifier but you'll quickly start making exceptions for

"pointer to int" is a type, because 'pointer to' is not a type qualifier like 'const'. You can call it a modifier but you'll quickly start making exceptions for any type that has a modifier to explain away why it's actually a different type with a different size. For example, sizeof(x) takes a type. The type argument for sizeof(int) is different than sizeof(int* ) and the results are different. sizeof(int*[3]) is different as well. These are all different types where pointers change the type. It's not the same type with a pointer modifier, there is no such thing.